When a patient has suffered a stroke, IV medications are the treatment implemented in the beginning and oral medications are prescribed during recovery and rehabilitation. Treatment for stroke should be administered within three hours of symptoms to avoid complications such as severe brain damage or death. Initially, the goal of treatment is to restore uninterrupted blood flow throughout the body.
Two types of blood clots that cause a stroke are embolus and thrombus. The embolus is a piece of a blood clot that broke off and travels to another part of the body. A thrombus forms inside the artery and does not travel.
Medications:
The role of medication is to restore blood flow to the cells. Some meds are used to dissolve clots, and others work to prevent cells from adhering to each other, which result in the formation of a blood clot.
Tissue Plasminogen Activator ( tPA): Is a clot busting medication given through an IV line, administered within 3 hours of symptom onset. It works by breaking down the fibrin strands, and can only be given for ischemic strokes.
Antiplatelet Meds: Prevent platelet cells from adhering to each other. Aspirin Aggrenox Plavix: Is an antiplatelet to slow clotting time. Aggrenox and Plavix replace aspirin when it is contraindicated. The inhibition of clotting can lead to severe bleeding episodes, and is a side effect of using these drugs.
Anticoagulants:
Heparin Warfarin (Coumadin)
Used in the prevention of blood clots in the heart due to atrial facilitation, anticoagulants also come with certain risk for side effects. These include bruising and hemorrhage.
For those on anticoagulants, Vitamin K intake must be monitored. The body requires Vitamin K for its natural ability to clot; therefore this vitamin can affect the ability of Heparin and Coumadin to work properly. Green vegetables are where vitamin K is commonly found and while you don't need to give them up, your doctor may need to monitor you or adjust your medication.
Recovery:
Once a patient is stable they will be released from the hospital to either a rehab facility, home and outpatient therapy or home where therapy can commence. There is no set timeframe for recovery and treatment. It can last six months or longer and is a lifelong endeavor for the patient.
If the patient is to be cared for at home, everyone must be willing to accept the changes that are bound to take place. The patient and the caregiver must settle into a routine to make the transition as non traumatic as possible. Special home modifications may be required to accommodate the patients needs, such as hand rails in the bathroom and wheelchair ramps.
If the patient is bed ridden, a hospital bed may be necessary. Special beds will help to prevent the incidence of decubitus ulcers from forming on the bony prominences of the body such as the elbow, heels, and pelvis bones. To prevent ulcers, make sure the patient is turned on to the left side and right side, alternating sides, propped on pillows every 2 hours. This is very important not only to prevent bed sores, but prevention of pneumonia as well. Elevating the feet to keep heels free from any type of pressure will prevent ulcers in this area.
The redness of skin breakdown can become painful very quickly; a physician can better determine the best method of treatment.
Two types of blood clots that cause a stroke are embolus and thrombus. The embolus is a piece of a blood clot that broke off and travels to another part of the body. A thrombus forms inside the artery and does not travel.
Medications:
The role of medication is to restore blood flow to the cells. Some meds are used to dissolve clots, and others work to prevent cells from adhering to each other, which result in the formation of a blood clot.
Tissue Plasminogen Activator ( tPA): Is a clot busting medication given through an IV line, administered within 3 hours of symptom onset. It works by breaking down the fibrin strands, and can only be given for ischemic strokes.
Antiplatelet Meds: Prevent platelet cells from adhering to each other. Aspirin Aggrenox Plavix: Is an antiplatelet to slow clotting time. Aggrenox and Plavix replace aspirin when it is contraindicated. The inhibition of clotting can lead to severe bleeding episodes, and is a side effect of using these drugs.
Anticoagulants:
Heparin Warfarin (Coumadin)
Used in the prevention of blood clots in the heart due to atrial facilitation, anticoagulants also come with certain risk for side effects. These include bruising and hemorrhage.
For those on anticoagulants, Vitamin K intake must be monitored. The body requires Vitamin K for its natural ability to clot; therefore this vitamin can affect the ability of Heparin and Coumadin to work properly. Green vegetables are where vitamin K is commonly found and while you don't need to give them up, your doctor may need to monitor you or adjust your medication.
Recovery:
Once a patient is stable they will be released from the hospital to either a rehab facility, home and outpatient therapy or home where therapy can commence. There is no set timeframe for recovery and treatment. It can last six months or longer and is a lifelong endeavor for the patient.
If the patient is to be cared for at home, everyone must be willing to accept the changes that are bound to take place. The patient and the caregiver must settle into a routine to make the transition as non traumatic as possible. Special home modifications may be required to accommodate the patients needs, such as hand rails in the bathroom and wheelchair ramps.
If the patient is bed ridden, a hospital bed may be necessary. Special beds will help to prevent the incidence of decubitus ulcers from forming on the bony prominences of the body such as the elbow, heels, and pelvis bones. To prevent ulcers, make sure the patient is turned on to the left side and right side, alternating sides, propped on pillows every 2 hours. This is very important not only to prevent bed sores, but prevention of pneumonia as well. Elevating the feet to keep heels free from any type of pressure will prevent ulcers in this area.
The redness of skin breakdown can become painful very quickly; a physician can better determine the best method of treatment.
About the Author:
Barb Hicks is a licensed registered nurse who is passionate about sharing her knowledge online. You can find her class about Early Warning Signs Of A Stroke and many other articles incuding Stroke Therapy on Clivir.com.
