Nurse Teaching on Risk Factors and Causes of Stroke

Nurse educated the patient and caregiver on risk factors and causes of stroke as follows:

  1. Transient ischemic attack (TIA): TIA is defined as a mini stroke, caused by a brief interruption of blood supply to parts of the brain. The symptoms of TIA are the same as stroke but less in intensity and usually resolve in 24 hours timeframe. Since the episode of short-lived, individuals experiencing TIA could not present with severe brain damage or residual motor deficits with weakness of body parts & limbs. The occurrence of TIA episodes could suggest increased risk of an individual for presentation with stroke, need for lifestyle changes, and adaptation of measures aimed at preventing a future full-blown episode of stroke.
  2. Obesity and physical inactivity: Morbid obesity with physical inactivity can have damaging effects on blood pressure control, blood sugar regulation, and blood cholesterol levels in the long run. These poorly controlled health parameters can all in their own independent capacity contribute to reduced blood supply to the brain tissue, rupture of blood vessels in the brain with bleeding, and development of stroke, as discussed above.
  3. Alcohol abuse: Chronic alcohol intake and abuse can have damaging effects on blood pressure control, blood sugar regulation, and blood cholesterol levels. These poorly controlled health parameters can all in their own independent way contribute to reduced blood supply to the brain tissue, rupture of blood vessels in the brain with bleeding, and development of stroke, as discussed above.
  4. Smoking: Chronic smoking can contribute to excess deposition of unhealthy cholesterol plaques on the inner walls of blood vessels in general, including the vessels supplying the brain tissue, resulting in hardening of blood vessels, narrowing of the blood vessel lumen, reduced blood flow to parts of brain, and development of stroke. Smoking also contributes to poor control of BP and BS numbers in individuals, which further the risk for reduced blood flow to parts of brain, development of weak spots along the vasculature in the brain, rupture of the blood vessels at the weakened spots, bleeding inside the brain tissue, and development of stroke.
  5. Poorly controlled hypertension: Persistent exposure of blood vessels in the brain to higher pressures in individuals with poorly controlled hypertension can result in thickening & hardening of the blood vessel, narrowing of the blood vessel lumen, reduced blood flow to parts of brain, and development of stroke. Chronic exposure to high BP numbers in individuals with poorly controlled hypertension can also result in progressive damage and weakening of the blood vessel wall, development of abnormal dilation of blood vessels at the weakened spots, result in rupture of the blood vessel at the weakened spots, and lead to bleeding inside the brain tissue with development of stroke.
  6. Poorly managed diabetes: Persistently elevated blood sugars in poorly managed diabetics can contribute to excess deposition of unhealthy cholesterol plaques on the inner walls of blood vessels in general, including the vessels supplying the brain tissue, resulting in narrowing of the blood vessel lumen, reduced blood flow to parts of brain, and development of stroke. Chronically elevated blood sugar numbers can also result in progressive damage and weakening of the blood vessel wall, development of abnormal dilation of blood vessels at the weakened spots, result in rupture of the blood vessel at the weakened spots, and lead to bleeding inside the brain tissue with development of stroke.
  7. Uncontrolled hyperlipidemia: Elevated LDL levels can contribute to excess deposition of unhealthy cholesterol plaques on the inner walls of blood vessels in general, including the vessels supplying the brain tissue, resulting in hardening of blood vessels, narrowing of the blood vessel lumen, reduced blood flow to parts of brain, and development of stroke.
  8. Unresolved and poorly controlled cardiac arrhythmia: Abnormal cardiac rhythm acutely increases risk for development of blood clots in the heart, which travel in the blood stream to be brain circulation. These clots can occlude the blood vessel at some point along the flow in the brain circulation, thus compromising blood flow to the brain tissue beyond the point of occlusion, leading to development of stroke.

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