Stroke Treatment And Recovery Overview
Stroke victims will receive IV medication treatment at the beginning of the episode and continue with oral medications during recovery and rehabilitation. Treatment of stroke must be given within three hours of onset of symptoms in order to prevent further brain damage and even death. Once a stroke has occurred, the main goal of treatment is to restore blood flow to the entire body.
Stroke is caused by two types of blood clots. The first, embolus is when a piece of a clot breaks free and travels to another area of the body. The second, called a thrombus is a blood clot which forms inside the artery and does not travel.
Medications:
Medications administered for a stroke are used to restore blood flow to the body. Some of these medications dissolve blood clots while others prevent cells from adhering to each other and forming a clot.
Tissue Plasminogen Activator ( tPA): Is a clot busting medication given through an IV line, administered within 3 hours of symptom onset. It works by breaking down the fibrin strands, and can only be given for ischemic strokes.
Antiplatelet Meds: Prevent platelet cells from adhering to each other. Aspirin Aggrenox Plavix: Is an antiplatelet to slow clotting time. Aggrenox and Plavix replace aspirin when it is contraindicated. The inhibition of clotting can lead to severe bleeding episodes, and is a side effect of using these drugs.
Anticoagulants:
Heparin Warfarin (Coumadin)
These medications prevent clots from forming in the heart, due to conditions such as atrial fibrillation. A side effect of anticoagulants is the possibility of hemorrhage and bruising.
For those on anticoagulants, Vitamin K intake must be monitored. The body requires Vitamin K for its natural ability to clot; therefore this vitamin can affect the ability of Heparin and Coumadin to work properly. Green vegetables are where vitamin K is commonly found and while you don’t need to give them up, your doctor may need to monitor you or adjust your medication.
Recovery:
Once the patient is stable they will be released to a rehab facility or discharged to home where therapy can be done on an outpatient basis, or in the home setting. Treatment will be on going for at least 6 months or more depending on the patients needs. It is important to realize continued improvement will be a lifelong endeavor in stroke treatment and recovery.
If the patient is to be cared for at home, everyone must be willing to accept the changes that are bound to take place. The patient and the caregiver must settle into a routine to make the transition as non traumatic as possible. Special home modifications may be required to accommodate the patients needs, such as hand rails in the bathroom and wheelchair ramps.
For those patients who are bed ridden, purchasing a hospital bed can be very beneficial. These specialized beds help aid in preventing bed sores which commonly occur on the heels, elbows and pelvic bones. By turning the patient from their left side to their right side propped up on a pillow every two hours, bed sores can be eliminated. If however, you notice skin breakdown in the form of red areas, contact a physician as soon as possible in order to prevent infection.
Any reddened areas on the skin indicate a need for repositioning to prevent further skin breakdown. Be sure to notify the physician if skin break down occurs.
Barb Hicks is a licensed registered nurse who is passionate about sharing her knowledge online. You can find her class about Stroke Causes and many other articles incuding Stroke Cure on Clivir.com.
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