Brain stem stroke is a very dangerous condition and needs to be treated immediately by a doctor. The reason is, this condition can cause the sufferer to experience paralysis, even death.
The brain stem is the part of the brain that regulates and controls various organs and limbs of the body. The brainstem is located just above the spine and at the back of the head. One of the vital organs in the human body serves to carry and convey signals from the brain to all parts of the body.
With the brainstem, you can breathe, move, talk, swallow, and blink. The brain stem also regulates heart function and various natural body mechanisms, such as vomiting and coughing.
Some Causes of Brainstem Stroke
A brain stem stroke occurs due to an interruption in blood flow to the brain stem and its surroundings. This disorder can occur due to blockage or bleeding in the brain stem. When the blood flow in the brain stem is disturbed, the nerve cells in that area are damaged and the brain stem is unable to transmit signals from the brain to all parts of the body. This causes various body functions to be disturbed.
Furthermore, a brainstem stroke can cause a person to experience locked-insyndrome or live in a locked body. The condition occurs when a person has full awareness and can still hear and see, but is unable to move the body at all or is completely paralyzed. Sufferer locked-in syndrome usually can only move one or both eyes.
Brainstem Stroke Type
There are 2 types of brain stem stroke, namely:
Ischemic stroke
Ischemic stroke or infarct stroke is a type of stroke that is quite common. Ischemic stroke is caused by a blockage or clot in the blood flow to the brain, thus interfering with the smooth flow of blood. In the brainstem, a blockage in the blood vessels of the brainstem can cause an ischemic type of brainstem stroke.
When the blood does not reach the brain tissue properly, the tissue in the brain will be disturbed and eventually will die because it does not receive oxygen from the blood. There are several conditions that can increase the risk of an ischemic stroke in the brainstem or in other parts of the brain, namely high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, blood disorders, heart rhythm disorders, and smoking.
hemorrhagic stroke
In contrast to ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke occurs due to the rupture of a blood vessel in the brain, causing bleeding and accumulation of blood around the tissue. This condition can cause permanent brain damage.
The most common cause of ruptured blood vessels in the brain is a brain aneurysm, which is a condition when the blood vessels of the brain are dilated and fragile so they can burst at any time. Brain stem strokes are also at high risk for a condition called brain herniation.
Hemorrhagic strokes are more at risk of occurring in the elderly or people who have certain conditions, such as hypertension, cerebral artery vein malformations, and bad lifestyles such as smoking, consuming excessive alcohol, and using drugs.
Symptoms of Brainstem Stroke
Brainstem stroke is sometimes difficult to diagnose because it has no characteristic symptoms. People who have had a brainstem stroke will usually experience sudden headaches, dizziness, and weakness. However, there are some signs and symptoms of a brain stem stroke that you need to be aware of, namely:
- Difficult to breathe
- The limbs are weakened or even paralyzed
- Tingling or numbness in certain body parts
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing and speaking
- Impaired balance or body coordination
- Vertigo
- Difficult to walk
- Hearing and vision impairment
- Hiccups that don't stop
- Loss of consciousness or coma
If you or someone you know experiences some of these symptoms, immediately go to the doctor or the nearest hospital emergency room for examination and treatment.
Steps for Handling Brainstem Stroke
Treatment for brain stem stroke is adjusted to the type or type of stroke and its cause. However, doctors will generally treat brain stem stroke conditions in the following ways:
1. Administration of drugs
To treat an ischemic stroke, doctors will give you drugs to dissolve or remove blood clots that block blood vessels in the brainstem. In addition, the doctor may also need to give anticoagulants or blood thinners to prevent the formation of repeated blood clots. If the blood clot is caused by a heart rhythm disorder, your doctor may also prescribe medications to treat the heart problem.
Meanwhile, in the case of a hemorrhagic type of brain stem stroke, the doctor may give blood pressure-lowering drugs, if the patient has high blood pressure that is difficult to control. To prevent or treat swelling of the brain, doctors can also give mannitol fluid through an IV.
Giving these drugs should be done as soon as possible, ie no later than 6 hours after the appearance of brain stem stroke symptoms.
2. Medical action or surgery
In certain cases, the doctor may also perform medical procedures, such as angioplasty or stenting, to destroy clots in the brainstem blood vessels and keep blood flow in these vessels stable.
If it is caused by a brain aneurysm, doctors may perform surgery to repair the ruptured or damaged blood vessel and control bleeding in the brain.
3. Oxygen therapy
A brain stem stroke can cause that part of the brain to experience a lack of oxygen. To meet the needs of oxygen, doctors also need to provide oxygen therapy.
In the case of a brain stem stroke that causes the patient to coma or unable to breathe spontaneously, the doctor may need to intubate to install a ventilator so that the patient can breathe.
4. Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy methods and medical rehabilitation are generally carried out after the condition of the brain stem stroke patient has stabilized. Physiotherapy aims to train movement skills and other abilities that may be problematic, such as swallowing, speaking, and getting out of bed.
Brainstem stroke survivors will often require close monitoring and intensive care in a hospital. Therefore, brain stem stroke sufferers may be admitted to the ICU.
Some causes of brainstem stroke, such as AVMs or brain aneurysms, may not be completely preventable. Even so, you can reduce your risk of having a brain stem stroke by taking the following steps:
- Eat nutritious foods that are low in fat and low in salt.
- Exercise regularly.
- Avoid smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke.
- Avoid consuming alcoholic beverages.
- Avoid using illegal drugs.
You also need to undergo regular check-ups with your doctor. During these routine check-ups, your doctor can estimate your risk for a brainstem stroke and provide advice on how to prevent it.
If you experience some of the symptoms of a brain stem stroke mentioned above, see a doctor immediately. The sooner you get treatment from a doctor, the lower your risk of developing dangerous complications.