subject: Stroke Terminology For Beginners [print this page] Stroke terminology for beginners is a great start in helping someone who suffered a stroke. Understanding of what's going on with a stroke victim starts in knowing usual words such as:
*atherosclerosis - clots in the blood are formed from fat deposits that have accumulated into the wall of arteries, causing the wall to thicken, harden, and be brittle
*aneurysm - is a weak or thin spot in an arterial wall that was stretched or had ballooned out from the wall and filled with blood
*anticoagulants - are substances that avoid or prevent the blood from clotting
*atrial fibrillation - also known as irregular heart beats
*brain attack / stroke - a condition resulting from the lack of oxygen supplied to the blood either through a clot in the arteries or to a rupture of a blood cell
*FAST (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) - Used in emergency situations to determine if a patient is suffering a stroke thru numbness of the face and arms and blurred speech over a sudden period of time
*hemiparesis - weakening of one side of the body due to stroke
*hemiplegia - paralysis of one side of the body due to stroke
*hemorrhagic stroke - a rupture of blood cell occurs in the brain causing bleeding into or around the brain
*high density lipoprotein (HDL) / good cholesterol - a compound of lipid and protein produced by the liver to carry a small percentage of cholesterol in the blood and deposits it in the liver
*hypertension / high blood pressure - persistent arterial blood pressure of greater than or equal to 140 mm/Hg systolic pressure over 90 mm/Hg diastolic pressure.
*infarct - an area of tissue that is dead or is dying due to the loss of blood supply during a stroke
*ischemic stroke - stroke involves the loss of blood flow to the tissues in the brain due to an obstruction of the blood vessel out of formed plaque or blood clots
*low density lipoprotein (LDL) / bad cholesterol - a compound produced by the liver to carry a large percentage of cholesterol in the blood, deposit it in the liver, and transport fat to the heart, muscles, and other tissues
*stroke unit - is a certified facility capable of handling emergency cases and treatment of stroke for the first 24 hours onwards
*stroke rehabilitation - is the process of helping a stroke victim regain the control of his faculties in as much normal a state as possible so he can return to what he normally does before the stroke
*transient ischemic attack (TIA) - a mini-stroke; lasts from minutes to 24 hours due to a brief interruption of blood supply to the brain
Stroke terminology for beginners touches on the common words family members or friends often hear when a loved one suffers a stroke that's beneficial in caring for the stroke patient.
