A stroke (CVA) represents a sudden interruption in the vascular supply of the brain

Epidemiology:

• In the UK there are over 150,000 strokes/year, with over 1.2 million stroke survivors
• Stroke is the 4th largest cause of death in the UK and kills twice as many women as breast cancer each year

Types

ischaemic or haemorrhagic

• Ischaemic (85% of all strokes)
• Haemorrhagic (15%)

Small vessel disease - vessel wall thickening, causes an inflammatory response - vessels can rupture or can become severely narrowed. So can cause both types of strokes

Main underlying risk factor is HTN

Strokes classification

PC

• Acute onset
• Deficit maximal at onset
• Negative Sx

Typical Sx:

• Motor (sensory) -
  • Unilateral weakness and sensory Sx