The Trumpet Medical Advisor

Patricia Naeder, RN, BS.

pat@billbaur.com/public

June, 2010 Edition ew3

Update on Stroke  (CerebroVascular Accident) C.V.A.

1-      A stroke, also called a cerebro-vascular-accident, (CVA)  is the impairment of brain and/or muscle/nerve function, temporary or permanent, due to an interruption of blood flow, in or around the brain. It can be from a blocked or burst blood vessel. Recovery can be very good or moderate depending on location and extent of the “insult” and the rapidity and quality of treatment.

2-      The location, type, and extent of the injury can determine the recovery outcome.

3-      A CVA within the brain can be on the right or left side. Usually the site of the “insult” affects the opposite side of the body.

4-      Another type of injury is hemorrhage in between the coverings of the brain, which also determines the type of symptoms. Surgery is the usual treatment. There may be neurological muscular residual issues to rehabilitate.

5-      The 3 main covering layers of the brain are called the Meninges. They are under the scalp and skull. The top layer is the Dura mater, the second covering is the Arachnoid, and the third brain covering is the Pia Mater. Then the brain is beneath.

6-      Clots that form and occlude blood vessels can remain still and impede blood flow. Since blood carries oxygen, anything beyond that point can be affected by the lack of oxygen.

7-      When a clot moves, it is called an embolus. When there is more than one clot they are called emboli. Wherever they become lodged is the site of the blockage or Infarct. Again, anything beyond the infarct site is deprived of oxygen and is affected.

8-      Risk Factors are: Smoking, Diabetes, High Cholesterol, Atrial Fibrillation where the blood in the upper right chamber of your heart stalls and vibrates there. This kind of intermittent stasis can form clots that can turn into moving emboli.

9-      A trial Fibrillation is not a very serious cardiac condition, however it is important that you see your Physician and have it treated with medication, to smooth the contractions of your heart to prevent any complications from static blood.

10-  Other risk factors: Previous C.V.A., and increasing age, only because there is more accumulation of plaque, from high fat diets, and the debris of inflammation from smoking and eating processed foods.

11-  To prevent this inflammatory process, speak with your Physician about the following:

a.        Don’t smoke.

b.       Look up and eat the Anti-Inflammatory Diet. Some foods are great natural Anti-inflammatories.

c.       Eat a low fat diet.

d.      Do not eat processed foods such as cold cuts, sausage, hot dogs, canned foods, or anything with a long list of ingredients. Eat whole fresh produce.

e.       Triple your vegetable intake.

f.       Eat fish, take Omega 3 fish oil capsules.

g.      Take CoQ10 for tissue repair and more efficient heart contractions.

h.      Take a multivitamin daily.

i.        Also taking an occasional over the counter pain pill (anti-inflammatory) can help. See your physician re. this subject because if you have ulcers, and other medical conditions,  certain meds are contraindicated. Obviously some people are allergic to aspirin, which is a serious and dangerous allergy that can cause anaphylactic reaction which can be life-threatening.

12-  Some of the signs that you may possibly be having a stroke are:

a.       Sudden headache, more common with sub arachnoid  hemorrhage.

b.      Speech difficulty.

c.       Difficulty understanding speech

d.      Dizziness, called Vertigo.

e.       T.I.As- Transient Ischemic (lack of O2) Attacks. Vessel spasms. A very important sign that is a Warning that stroke may be imminent. Get treatment immediately to prevent an actual CVA.

This intermittent dizziness comes and goes. It is a warning that the environment in your vessels is not perfect and should be checked by your Physician.

f.        Your Physician will listen to your carotid arteries on each side of your neck to listen for bruit sounds which signal narrowing or stenosis of the vessels, and may indicate surgery, or other treatments.

The causes of these issues are multiple:

                                                              i.      Inflammation and viscosity of your blood may be a factor. Your blood pressure may be too high, reflecting narrowing of your blood vessels, or you may have damage from smoking, which causes severe inflammation to the lining (endothelium) of your blood vessels, and causes thickening of the walls, thereby narrowing the lumen or width of the vessels for the passage of normal blood flow.

                                                            ii.       The blood vessel narrowing can also be due to plaque formation, called atherosclerosis, or fat and platelets and other debris build-up which narrows the vessels and they become too narrow to let a normal amount of blood through

g.      Numbness, tingling.

h.      Slurred speech.

i.        Weakness in arms, legs, or hands.

j.        Vision disturbances. Seeing only half of the image.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU THINK YOU’RE HAVING A STROKE

1-      If you experience symptoms that indicate that you may be having a stroke, do not wait or ignore them. Get to the E.R. and/or your Doctor. If it isn’t a stroke, you’ve lost nothing.

2-      Time is of the Essence!  In the E.R. you may be given T.P.A. (clot buster) Tissue Plasminogen Activator, which is a clot dissolving enzyme, to open   the clot or blockage.

3-      If you are a candidate for, and receive T.P.A. remember that the best results are within the first half hour. Within 3 hours you can still get good results. After 4 ½ hours the results are less optimistic but will still help.

4-      After the crisis you may be placed on blood thinners. Be sure to write down all of the supplements that you take, and show them to your Physician, because something like Vit. E would be contra-indicated because it is also a blood thinner.

5-      The follow up treatments are medications, low fat diet, triple vegetables, ½ hour moderate exercise like walking, daily. The health club is good ½ the week, and outside is good to absorb Vit D the other ½ of the week. If I could recommend one treatment that does the most good for this and many other ailments, it would be moderate Exercise like walking. It enhances every single organ in your body, including your brain. Over-exercise is counter-productive. It causes micro-hemorrhages within the muscle straps, and the body has to repair it. It also causes the joints to become inflamed, and the body has to waste it’s time using up its resources to repair that too. The worst scenario is that scarring will occur which impedes movement and may require treatment. Moderation is best.

6-    The improvement in the Rehab Department at your local hospital is excellent for muscle strengthening and verbal therapy. Do not be discouraged, or allow your loved one to be discouraged in the initial limitations of muscles or speech or understanding. Most commonly these come back up to 95%. One can make great progress indefinitely. Also new supplements and medications are coming out daily. Diet changes are very powerful.

Breaking Health News Bulletin, regarding Breast Cancer:

Announcement today of major progress in a new Breast Cancer Vaccine.

Dr. Vincent Tuohy of  The Cleveland Clinic announced success with a Breast Cancer Vaccine in mice.

Dr. Tuohy stated that a protein called A lactyl bumin, normally found in lactating women was found to be 100% effective as an antigen when injected into mice. It successful created an antibody response and eliminated tumor growth in 100% of the mice that were injected.

Clinical trials will now proceed to primates later this year, and Human Trials will begin next year.

Good Health to You!

Patricia Naeder, RN, BS

Medical Advisor