Certain conditions become the causes of stroke-like:

• High Blood pressure– High blood pressure or hypertension is one of the biggest causes of stroke. If the blood pressure is more than 130/80, it is important to consult the doctor to treat it.
• Tobacco– Smoking or chewing tobacco increases the chance of a stroke. The high quantity of nicotine increases blood pressure. At the same time, cigarette smoke accumulates fat in the main neck artery, which can thicken the blood and form clots. Even second-hand smoke can cause the formation of blood clots.
• Heart diseases– It involves defective heart valves and atrial fibrillation which is an irregular heartbeat. This creates a quarter of stroke cases in the elderly. Also, fatty deposits can cause clogged arteries.
• Diabetes– People with high blood pressure can become overweight. This creates a chance of stroke. Diabetes can harm the blood vessels in the body which increases the chances of stroke. Also, a stroke during a high blood sugar level can cause more damage to the brain.
• Medications– In many cases, medicines can increase the chances of having a stroke. For instance, the blood-thinning drugs to prevent blood clots can become the cause of stroke with more bleeding. Even hormone therapy for treating menopause symptoms increases the likelihood of a stroke.
• Genetic causes– Sometimes stroke can be caused by genetic causes. Similar to blood pressure and diabetes, stroke can be a genetic disorder blocking the blood flow of the brain. 

To detect a case of stroke, you need to look for the symptoms because instant treatment is a life-saving aspect. 

• Trouble speaking- A common symptom is a Trouble speaking or understanding things said by people in the surrounding. For instance, confusion, slur words, and problems in understanding words said by someone else.
  
• Numbness– Another symptom is a feeling of numbness or paralysis in the face, arm, or legs. This sudden numbness can affect only one part of the body.
• Vision issues– A difficulty in seeing from two eyes like blurred or blackened vision can be a possible symptom.
• Headache– A severe and sudden headache with vomiting, dizziness, or altered consciousness can be an indication of a stroke.
• Difficulty in walking– A trouble in walking like stumbling or losing out balance is a sign of a symptom. Even sudden dizziness or loss of lack of coordination.

There are multiple ways to detect stroke-like:

1. Blood tests– A blood count check, for the level of platelets, is used to diagnose blood tests. These cells build blood clots. The lab tests are a measure to check the functioning of kidneys.
2. Clotting time– There is a pair of tests known as PT (prothrombin time) and PTT (partial thromboplastin time) that helps to diagnose the blood clots.
3. Imaging Tests– Multiple imagery tests can be used to diagnose stroke-like:

• Computerized tomography (CT)- In this test, a medical practitioner takes multiple x-rays from different angles of the body, and keeps them together to know if there is any damage to varying cells. Even a dye can be used to identify a thin or weak spot on an artery.
  
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)- It uses powerful magnets and radio waves to form a detailed picture of the brain. It is more precise than a CT scan and it can identify injuries more precisely than a CT scan.
  
• Carotid ultrasound- It employs the use of sound waves to find fatty deposits that could have narrowed or blocked the arteries in the brain.  

• Clot buster medicine– Some specific strokes are treated using injection with a medicine known as alteplase. This medicine dissolves blood clots in the brain and restores the normal blood flow in the body giving it the name ‘clot-busting’.
• Thrombectomy– This is an emergency procedure to treat stroke by removing blood clots and restoring the blood flow in the brain. It is effective to treat strokes caused by blood clots in the large artery of the brain.
• Aspirin– Majority of the stroke patients will be given a regular dose of aspirin. It is a painkiller and an antiplatelet that decreases the chances of a blood clot. Even another antiplatelet medicine is clopidogrel and dipyridamole.
• Anticoagulants– Many patients are given anticoagulants to decrease the risk of developing new blood clots on the brain. It involves altering the chemical composition of the blood to prevent the formation of clots
• Physiotherapy– To ease the impacts of stroke on a body like paralysis and numbness, doctors often suggest Physiotherapy Treatment to patients

Physiotherapy can be an important part of healing from a stroke. Strokes can affect body movements. Consequently, early Physiotherapy Treatment can improve the health and functioning of the body. Every Physiotherapist makes a custom treatment plan relevant to every survivor by a detailed examination of the body. The treatment is based on some particular aims that are set by the patient and the therapist together.  

The treatment begins with basic tasks and movements like going from a bed to a chair and protecting the body while doing this. Eventually, there are exercises to enhance the balance and coordination of the body and retrain the brain for physical functioning like catching objects and walking, sitting, etc. There can be inpatient and outpatient or rehabilitation services. 

Some common treatments under Physiotherapy for stroke include-

• Limb physiotherapy- It involves the use of passive and assertive care devices.
• Learning theory approach
• Tone management
• Sensory re-education
• Balance retraining
• Fall prevention
• Functional electrical stimulation
• Gait re-education 

Stroke can affect the physical abilities and cognitive skills of a person. It can temporarily or permanently damage the brain areas controlling body function. However, the brain can recover and daily activity or exercise can help in functional recovery.

• Wrist curls– Sit on a chair and keep the arms on a rest with palm facing upwards next, let the wrist dangle on the edge of the armrest and grasp some weight making slow controlled movements. You can bend the wrist towards the forearm and back down.
• Wrist and hand stretch– Make the arms face downward and the wrist dangle with the edge of the armrest. Then drop the hand and gently lift the wrist up and down or side to side with another hand.
• Shoulder opener– Hold the weights at the sides and bend the elbow at 90°angle. Consequently,  making slow controlled movements and moving the fist outwards keeps the arms in position on the sides. Bring the arms back to the starting position.
• Trunk Bends– Sit on the edge of the chair and keep the feet slightly apart on the ground. Bend it forwards and try to reach the ankles of your legs and use the core muscles to sit back up and straight.  

At DynaFisio, we pride ourselves on providing easily accessible and cutting-edge solutions to people suffering from impaired mobility and function. If you are a stroke survivor, visit DynaFisio Physiotherapy Clinic today and experience holistic wellness with our experts.