Stroke infarction or cerebral infarction is a condition when blood flow to the brain is blocked, causing damage to brain tissue. This damage occurs because brain tissue does not get enough oxygen. Without adequate oxygen, brain cells and tissues will be damaged and die.
Infarct stroke is also known as ischemic stroke or non-hemorrhagic stroke. In contrast to hemorrhagic stroke, infarct stroke is not caused by bleeding. This condition is the result of a lack of oxygen supply to the brain caused by obstructions in the arteries of the brain.
Stroke infarction is the most common type of stroke. It is estimated that about 80-90% of all stroke cases worldwide are caused by infarct or ischemic strokes.
There are several conditions that can increase a person's risk of having a stroke, ranging from diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, high cholesterol, obesity, to an unhealthy lifestyle, such as frequent smoking and consuming alcohol. In addition, autoimmune diseases such as antiphospholipid syndrome can also increase the risk of stroke at a young age.
Recognizing the Symptoms of Stroke Infarction
Stroke is a medical emergency, so it needs prompt and appropriate treatment. Early treatment measures in stroke infarcts can minimize brain damage and reduce the risk of complications.
The following are some of the signs and symptoms of a stroke that you need to watch out for:
1. The body feels weak and difficult to move
One of the main symptoms of a stroke is paralysis or weakness of the muscles in the limbs, such as the legs and arms. This condition makes it difficult for the sufferer to move one side of the body.
In addition, symptoms of weakened body muscles can also appear along with other complaints, such as tingling or numbness. These complaints generally appear suddenly. For example, one hand is unable to grip tightly.
2. Difficulty speaking
Not only limbs, stroke is also characterized by weakening of facial muscles. This causes the sufferer to have difficulty speaking, expressing, and even difficult to understand other people's speech and cannot respond to conversations well.
3. Visual disturbances
Stroke can also have an impact on vision. You may suddenly find it difficult to see or have trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
4. It's hard to walk
Infarct stroke is also characterized by sudden dizziness, so the sufferer loses balance or coordination when walking. Stroke can also make it difficult for sufferers to move their legs and feet, making it difficult to walk.
If it causes paralysis, a stroke can make you unable to walk at all.
5. Severe headache
A severe headache that appears suddenly, especially if it is accompanied by other symptoms such as vomiting, dizziness, or loss of consciousness, can be a sign that you are having a stroke.
Steps for Handling Stroke Infarction
As previously explained, treatment of stroke infarcts needs to be done as early as possible to prevent severe damage to the brain and stroke complications.
The sooner a stroke is treated, the higher the chances of recovery and recovery. Conversely, if left too long without treatment, a stroke can cause permanent damage to the brain.
Therefore, you need to immediately see a doctor when you experience symptoms of a stroke, either infarct stroke or hemorrhagic stroke. To treat stroke infarction, doctors can perform the following treatments:
Oxygen therapy
In the hospital, the doctor will give oxygen if the amount of oxygen in the patient's body is reduced. If the patient has decreased consciousness or is in a coma and cannot breathe normally, the doctor may provide rescue breaths through intubation and put on a ventilator.
Administration of drugs
To overcome the blockage of blood flow that causes a stroke infarct, doctors need to give drugs that include anticoagulant drugs or blood thinners such as aspirin and warfarin, as well as thrombolytic drugs to treat blockages in the blood vessels of the brain, for example class of drugs. recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (r-tPA).
These drugs need to be given as soon as possible, no later than 4.5–6 hours after the symptoms of a stroke appear. Meanwhile, effective blood-thinning drugs are given within 24-48 hours after stroke symptoms appear.
The doctor may also give other drugs, such as antihypertensive drugs to control the patient's blood pressure and drugs to maintain brain function (neuroprotectors), such as Citicoline.
Operation
If there are clots or blood clots that are large and cannot be completely destroyed by RtPA injection, treatment can be continued with surgery.
In addition to surgery, doctors can also do ring or ring installation stenting in the blood vessels of the brain to destroy blockages in the blood vessels of the brain and keep the blood flow to the brain smooth.
Physiotherapy and occupational therapy
After the stroke infarct is treated, the patient needs to undergo treatment for several days in the hospital to be monitored for the progress of his condition. If the infarct stroke causes paralysis or limb weakness, the doctor will usually recommend the patient to do physiotherapy or occupational therapy.
Some Ways to Prevent Stroke Infarction
Stroke prevention efforts can be done in the following ways:
1. Control blood pressure
One of the most important things you can do to reduce your risk of stroke is to keep your blood pressure normal. If you've had a stroke, try to keep your blood pressure stable to prevent another stroke.
2. Eat fruits and vegetables
Consume at least 5 servings of fruit or vegetables every day to reduce the risk of stroke. In addition to vegetables and fruit, it is advisable to consume whole grain products, nuts, and seeds.
High fiber intake from these foods can reduce cholesterol, so the risk of blockages in the blood vessels of the brain can be reduced.
3. Maintain a healthy weight
Excess body weight is one of the factors that can increase the risk of stroke and various other health problems, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Therefore, it is recommended that you exercise regularly for at least 30 minutes every day.
4. Limit consumption of foods high in cholesterol and saturated fat
Foods high in cholesterol and saturated fat can cause a buildup of fat or plaque in your arteries. Therefore, its consumption should be limited. Consult a doctor or nutritionist, if you find it difficult to lower cholesterol levels only through diet.
No less important is that you must be diligent in exercising, managing stress well, avoiding the use of illegal drugs, and quitting smoking. If you experience symptoms of an infarct stroke, immediately consult a doctor to get medical treatment as soon as possible.