The words ‘Stroke, apoplexy and cerebro-vascular accident’ all mean the same thing. The hypertensive patient may become prone to this condition as a result of the narrowing of the blood vessels (this time in the brain) coupled with the increasing pressure with which blood is forced through them.
Usually the vessels in the brain are not as prominent as those in the limbs or trunk hence they are liable to rupture so easily. The hypertensive patient may suffer from this condition if he/she does not recognize the warning signs and act fast or if the stroke develops spontaneously without initial warning. Some of the warning signs of impending stroke are sudden severe headache or an increase in the quality or intensity of an already existing headache and a feeling of numbness in the extremities. These signs must be reported to the doctor immediately. Some of the factors that can precipitate this condition include non-adherence to drug regimen, excessive stress, sudden bereavement, loss of job, drug resistance, etc.
Some of the signs that the patient may have had stroke include loss of sensation on one part of the body, inability to move especially the affected side, slurred speech, drooping of one side of the mouth, drooling at the mouth, unequal pupils of the eyes, etc. When you see any of these signs stroke should be suspected and the doctor or the Emergency medical service called immediately. Do not attempt to move the patient to the hospital by yourself as this could end up complicating the situation.
The patient is usually admitted into the hospital for expert medical management; an attempt is made to gradually lower the blood pressure and control the condition from deteriorating rapidly. Some of the things that would be done for the patient include helping him to regain the use of the affected part of the body, regaining his speech, prevention of complication that would set in as a result of long period of confinement in bed and the control of the cause of the apoplexy, which could primarily be haemorrhage or other causes. If urgent and immediate steps are taken in the right direction and treatment commenced as soon as possible the level of damage would be greatly minimized, but if treatment is delayed for more than eight hours after the onset of the stroke extensive damage would have been done.
