Stroke Paralysis

By Dr. Bimal Chhajer

Stroke or CVA is defined as a sudden non-convulsive neurological deficit. It is mainly due to non-supply of blood (thereby oxygen) to the brain or part of the brain due to a clot in the brain artery or due to bursting of the brain artery. This disease is common in the middle and late years of life.  
Brain rules over the most sophisticated control system of the world, i.e. central nervous system. All our sensations from every part of the body reach the brain via the sensory nerves and the brain orders all the movements through a set of nerves called the motor nerves. Our thought process, our vision, hearing, writing/speaking, learning, memory, and planning - almost all the activities are carried out in the brain. In stroke, the brain or part of it suddenly gets damaged or dead. This disease, thus, becomes very crucial and can hamper our life as well.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Diamond Books
• Release date: Apr 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9789385975288

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Glossary

Introduction

Stroke or CVA is defined as a sudden non-convulsive neurological deficit. It is mainly due to non-supply of blood (thereby oxygen) to the brain or part of the brain due to a clot in the brain artery or due to bursting of the brain artery. This disease is common in the middle and late years of life.

Brain rules over the most sophisticated control system of the world, i.e. central nervous system. All our sensations from every part of the body reach the brain via the sensory nerves and the brain orders all the movements through a set of nerves called the motor nerves. Our thought process, our vision, hearing, writing/speaking, learning, memory, and planning - almost all the activities are carried out in the brain. In stroke, the brain or part of it suddenly gets damaged or dead. This disease, thus, becomes very crucial and can hamper our life as well.

Brain cells are very specialized cells and continuously get blood supply and oxygen. In fact, about 20-25% of the body’s oxygen supply is in the brain, which weighs only 1.5 kilograms. Brain cells are so sensitive to lack of oxygen that even 10 seconds without oxygen may create unconsciousness. Within two minutes of non- supply of blood (and thereby oxygen) the brain cells get permanently dead or damaged. This is what happens in this disease called Stroke (Cerebro Vascular Accident or CVA). More than 2 lac people die of stroke in USA every year and in India this number may be five times more.

There are two possibilities which can make non-supply of blood to the brain. The first is alike the heart attack in case of heart. A blood clot can form in one of the brain arteries due to gradual atherosclerosis