A stroke, also known as cerebrovascular accident (CVA), is an acute neuralgic injury in which the blood supply to a part of the brain is interrupted. That is, stroke involves sudden loss of neuronal function due to disturbance in cerebral perfusion. This disturbance in perfusion is commonly arterial, but can be venous.

The part of the brain with disturbed perfusion no longer receives adequate oxygen. This initiates the Ischemic cascade which causes brain cells to die or be seriously damaged, impairing local brain function. Stroke is a medical emergency and can cause permanent neuralgic damage or even death if not promptly diagnosed and treated.

Symptoms

The symptoms of stroke depend on the type of stroke and the area of the brain affected. Ischemic strokes usually only affect regional areas of the brain perfuse by the blocked artery

Muscle weakness (hemiplegia)

Sudden numbness, weakness, or paralysis of your face, arm or leg. Usually on one side of your body Reduction in sensory or vibratory sensation

Sudden dizziness, loss of balance or loss of coordination

In most cases, the symptoms affect only one side of the body. The defect in the brain is usually on the opposite side of the body (depending on which part of the brain is affected). However, the presence of any one of these symptoms does not necessarily suggest a stroke, since these pathways also travel in the spinal cord and any lesion there can also produce these symptoms.

Diagnosis

It is diagnosed through different techniques a neurological examination, blood tests, CT scans (without contrast enhancements) or MRI scans, Doppler ultrasound, and arteriography.Before treating a stroke, your doctor must diagnose the type of stroke and its location. Other possible causes of your symptoms, such as a tumor, also need to be excluded

Treatment

It is important to identify a stroke as early as possible because patients who are treated earlier are more likely to survive and have better recoveries.

If a patient is suspected of having a stroke, emergency services should be contacted immediately. Treatment itself depends on the type of stroke.

The Alberta Provincial Stroke Strategy (APSS) is a two year $20M project funded by the Alberta Provincial Government to improve stroke prevention and care in the province. It is a collaborative partnership between the Alberta Health and Wellness, all nine health regions and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta, NWT and Nunavut.