Stroke and Brain Damage

A stroke, or cardiovascular accident, causes damage to the brain when the blood supply is reduced or stopped completely, usually by the bursting of a blood vessel, or the occlusion of a vessel by a blood clot(Stroke, 2001, 1862). A thrombotic stroke occurs when a blood clot forms in an artery and blocks blood supply to part of the brain; en embolic stroke occurs when a blood clot or piece of plaque breaks away in another part of the body and blocks an artery in the brain; a lacunar stroke is the blockage of certain small blood vessels in the brain; and a cerebral hemorrhage occurs when an artery in the brain tears or bursts, causing blood to leak out into the brain tissue, and usually occurs as a result of high blood pressure or a congenital blood vessel defect. Risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, endocarditis, atherosclerosis, heart arrhythmias, and a family history of stroke.

If part of the brain tissue is deprived of its blood supply by a cardiovascular accident, it dies (Stroke, 2001, 1862). Bleeding from a ruptured vessel can also damage brain tissue by exerting pressure on the cells.

A history and physical need to be carried out, if the patient is conscious to determine if there is a history of CVA, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, or neurological disorders (Kistler, 1999). Blood pressure measurements are taken in bo

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