Although some strokes can leave permanent damage, it is also necessary to pay attention to attacks that recover within 24 hours and are called "temporary paralysis". Stating that these attacks may be a harbinger of a major stroke, experts warn, "Temporary strokes should be evaluated urgently and treatment should be started to prevent major stroke."
Neurology Specialist Dr. Celal Şalçini from Üsküdar University NPISTANBUL Hospital Stroke Center said that paralysis that resolves spontaneously should be taken into consideration.
Speech disorder may be a harbinger of stroke
Defining stroke as "neurological problems, or more precisely, accidents or losses that occur as a result of the lack of blood supply to the brain for whatever reason", Şalçini said:
"Although there are many types of stroke, the most common cause is vascular occlusion or clotting in the brain or neck. This clot can be thrown from the vein or heart and as a result, it can block the blood vessel that feeds the brain. The second most common cause of stroke is cerebral hemorrhage caused by ruptured blood vessels in the brain. As a result of the clot or bleeding, the brain is damaged and the brain cells die within a short period of time. Meanwhile, whichever part of the brain is damaged, the brain cannot perform that function and the patient may have severe defects such as unilateral weakness, speech impairment and visual impairment."
Dr. Celal Şalçini stated that stroke is often characterized by a sudden onset of neurologic impairment and said, "It is most commonly manifested by speech impairment, unilateral weakness in the arm or leg, loss of vision, nausea and vomiting."
Beware of temporary paralysis!
Emphasizing that although some strokes can leave permanent damage, there may be attacks that recover within 24 hours and are called temporary paralysis, Şalçini said, "Since these attacks may be a harbinger of a major stroke, urgent evaluation and treatment to prevent major stroke should be started. Strokes have a risk of recurrence. A person is more likely to have a stroke than someone who has never had a stroke."
Stating that the stroke center is a specialized neurology center where patients who have had a stroke or are at risk of having a stroke are followed and treated, Dr. Celal Şalçini said, "The goal here is to prevent the patient from having a stroke, to support the recovery of the previous stroke with minimal damage and to minimize the risk of having a stroke again. The Stroke Center mainly works together with radiology, cardiology, internal medicine/endocrinology and physical therapy departments."
Stroke treatment
Stating that the treatment started in someone who has not had a stroke is primary prevention or primary prophylaxis, Şalçini said, "Here, the physician protects the patient by starting preventive medications such as oral blood thinners, blood pressure medication or cholesterol medication if necessary. A person who has had a stroke can be given intravenous blood thinners in the early period, as well as various blood thinners and supportive therapies in the late period."