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i. STROKE…A stroke is a condition in which the brain cells suddenly die because of a lack of oxygen. This can be caused by an obstruction in the blood flow, or the rupture of an artery that feeds the brain. The patient may suddenly lose the ability to speak, there may be memory problems, or one side of the body can become paralyzed. The two main types of stroke include ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke.
- Ischemic stroke--accounts for about three-quarters of all strokes and occurs when a blood clot, or thrombus, forms that blocks blood flow to part of the brain. If a blood clot forms somewhere in the body and breaks off to become free-floating, it is called an embolus. This wandering clot may be carried through the bloodstream to the brain where it can cause ischemic stroke.
- A hemorrhagic stroke--occurs when a blood vessel on the brain's surface ruptures and fills the space between the brain and skull with blood (subarachnoid hemorrhage) or when a defective artery in the brain bursts and fills the surrounding tissue with blood (cerebral hemorrhage). Both types of stroke result in a lack of blood flow to the brain and a buildup of blood that puts too much pressure on the brain. The outcome after a stroke depends on where the stroke occurs and how much of the brain is affected. Smaller strokes may result in minor problems, such as weakness in an arm or leg. Larger strokes may lead to paralysis or death. Many stroke patients are left with weakness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking, incontinence, and bladder problems.
ii. HEART ATTACK /HEART FAILURE/CARDIAC ARREST
- Heart Attack - this consists of death of heart muscle due to an occlusion (blockage) of a coronary artery. Put simply, heart muscle tissue dies. The heart muscle dies because it is starved of oxygen (because blood is not getting to it). The medical term for a heart attack is myocardial infarction.
- Heart Failure…..Even though it may sound like it, heart failure does not necessarily mean that the heart has failed. Heart failure is a serious condition in which the heart is not pumping blood around the body efficiently. The patient's left side, right side, or even both sides of the body can be affected. Symptoms will depend on which side is affected and how severe the heart failure is - Heart failure may cause problems beyond just evident physical ones. Almost half of all heart failure patients have problems with memory and other aspects of cognitive functioning.
- Cardiac Arrest - this means the heartbeat stops, the heart stops, blood circulation stops, there is no pulse.
iii. CORONARY HEART DISEASE……… is the term that describes what happens when your heart's blood supply is blocked or interrupted by a build-up of fatty substances in the coronary arteries. Over time, the walls of your arteries can become furred up with fatty deposits. This process is known as atherosclerosis and the fatty deposits are called atheroma. If your coronary arteries become narrow due to a build-up of atheroma, the blood supply to your heart will be restricted. This can cause angina (chest pains).If a coronary artery becomes completely blocked, it can cause a heart attack (myocardial infarction).
iv. HYPERTENSIVE HEART DISEASE…..Hypertensive heart disease refers to heart problems that occur because of high blood pressure. These problems include: Coronary artery disease and angina (spasmodic choking); Heart failure; Thickening of the heart muscle (called hypertrophy). High blood pressure means the pressure inside the blood vessels (called arteries) is too high. As the heart pumps against this pressure, it must work harder. Over time, this causes the heart muscle to thicken resulting to hypertensive heart disease.
Titany answered the question on July 27, 2021 at 11:47