In about 80% of cases, the cause is a thrombotic occlusion – a blocked blood vessel. This form of stroke is also called an ischemic (white) stroke. It can be caused, for example, by vascular calcification (atherosclerosis) or a blood clot (embolus). A stroke due to an intracerebral hemorrhage, that is, a brain hemorrhage, occurs less frequently and is referred to as a hemorrhagic (red) stroke.
In the case of a stroke, the brain is no longer adequately supplied with oxygen and other nutrients. With this massive dysfunction of the brain, brain tissue can begin to die due to lack of oxygen in as little as ten to fifteen minutes.
If this condition persists for an extended period (more than 24 hours), the gray cells in a specific area of the brain do not receive sufficient oxygen or nutrients and thus die due to lack of supply.
Whether the affected area in the brain loses its function permanently or only temporarily depends heavily on how long and to what extent the blood flow to the brain is impaired.
The symptoms of a stroke are diverse. Often there is hemiparesis (incomplete paralysis of one side of the body) as well as monoparesis (paralysis of a single limb).
Affected individuals often experience apraxia (impairment of actions or movement sequences) and transient visual disturbances as well as aphasia (central language disorder).
The signs of a stroke can last from a few minutes to 24 hours. When these symptoms occur, whether it is due to a TIA or a “major” stroke, hospital admission is necessary in any case.
One can distinguish between three types of symptoms: physical, psychological, and neurological.
Do not hesitate to call the emergency doctor! The consequences of one or more false alarms are less serious than the consequences of a stroke being treated too late.
Since every stroke is an emergency, immediate treatment is always necessary. The paramedic first checks the patient’s vital functions and, if the person is responsive, asks about the symptoms that have occurred. Upon arrival at the hospital, the attending neurologist will assess the stroke patient’s coordination, vision, touch, and speech abilities, as well as their sensation of touch.
Afterwards, a robust diagnosis is made using imaging techniques such as a computed tomography of the head (also called cranial CT) or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The images obtained by the CT of the skull provide information on whether the stroke was caused by a brain hemorrhage or by a vessel occlusion.
A CT scan is usually complemented by measuring blood flow (CT perfusion) and visualizing the blood vessels (CT angiography).
Furthermore, the functional or performance capacity of the heart must also be comprehensively examined. This is done through an
electrocardiography – an EKG.
Finally, the following blood tests are also carried out: electrolyte balance, kidney values, blood sugar levels, blood clotting, and blood count to confirm the stroke.
It is important that every stroke is treated as quickly as possible to minimize the extent of possible long-term damage. Ideally, the affected person will be treated by personnel with expertise in the field of strokes in so-called Stroke Units – a specialized department for strokes.
The two types of stroke require different treatment methods.
In the treatment of a hemorrhagic stroke caused by a brain hemorrhage, the size of the brain hemorrhage is initially evaluated. For smaller brain hemorrhages, it may be sufficient to avoid activities that increase pressure in the head.
Larger brain hemorrhages need to be surgically treated. During the surgery, the skull is opened to remove the hematoma (the bruise) and stop the bleeding.
In the treatment of an ischemic stroke, there are two possible treatment methods. The most important treatment is the so-called lyse therapy (also called thrombolysis), in which the vessel blockage is resolved by clot-dissolving medications and the number of dead nerve cells should be kept as small as possible. The medications are usually administered through an infusion.
The blood clot is nowadays also removed additionally by a mechanical intervention. In thrombectomy, a catheter is guided through an artery and under X-ray monitoring to the clot, and with the help of the finest instruments, it is then removed.
The last point of treatment is the prevention of new strokes. Once it has been determined what type of stroke it is and what exactly led to the stroke, measures can be taken to prevent the recurrence of a stroke.
In the treatment of an ischemic stroke caused by a vessel occlusion, blood-thinning medications are usually prescribed.
The consequences of a stroke can be as varied as its symptoms. However, approximately 50 percent of those affected usually suffer permanent damage.
The type and extent of the resulting damage depend largely on the area of the brain where the damage occurs. Below is a list of the resulting damages that significantly impact daily life.
You can quickly calculate whether you are overweight through a simple calculation.
Values up to 24.9 are considered normal weight according to the BMI (Body Mass Index), and only values above 25 are considered overweight. Calculate your BMI as follows:
Weight (in kilograms) divided by your height (in meters) squared.
Example calculation You are 1.65 meters tall and weigh 63 kilograms.
Then you calculate:
This is the BMI classification according to the World Health Organization (WHO):
18.5 – 24.9: Normal weight
25 – 29.9: Overweight
30 – 34.9: Obesity (Obesity) Grade I
35 – 39.9: Obesity Grade II
from 40: Obesity Grade III
The normal weight also depends on age and gender, according to other information.
The higher the cholesterol levels, the higher the risk of deposits in the blood vessels. There is a distinction between LDL cholesterol levels and HDL cholesterol levels. LDL cholesterol is particularly harmful, while HDL cholesterol is considered positive and provides a certain level of protection.
With sufficient exercise, healthy diet, and a generally healthy lifestyle, it is possible to beneficially influence cholesterol levels and other blood lipid levels.
Diabetics suffer a stroke almost twice as often as non-diabetics.
Especially type 2 diabetics usually already suffer from high blood pressure and elevated blood lipid levels, and if an elevated blood sugar level is added, the risk of a stroke increases significantly, as an elevated blood sugar level damages the blood vessels and promotes the deposition of plaque.
According to the German Stroke Aid Foundation, around 270,000 people in Germany alone suffer a stroke annually, with about 70,000 of them experiencing a recurrent stroke.
More than 80 percent of those affected are over 60 years old, and approximately 300 children suffer a stroke each year.
Within the first year, up to 40 percent of all stroke victims die, and after one year, around 64 percent of surviving patients require care – about 15 percent of them even need to be cared for in a nursing facility.
Espen (35), father of two children, suffered a stroke and now uses the TOPRO Step mechanical stair climbing aid
To carry out an on-site inspection and receive a quote, make an appointment with us. Once you have accepted the quote, we will carry out the installation, which usually only takes a few hours.
TOPRO Step is TĂśV-tested and certified and meets all functional and safety requirements.
TOPRO Step is designed so that it can be easily adapted to your staircase. It can be installed on straight stairs, curved stairs and stairs with a landing.
Ask your health insurance company about the possibility of cost coverage or possible subsidies. Please note that these options are country-specific and individual.
TOPRO Step means TOPRO quality. When you buy a TOPRO Step, you receive a guarantee of up to 5 years.
We measure success by satisfied customers, which is our top priority. We already have over 4,000 satisfied users throughout Europe.
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+47 902 931 00
Monday - Friday
08:00 – 16:00 o'clock.
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Help with climbing stairs – Our 5 tips: As we get older, more and more people have difficulty walking and sooner or later find themselves facing their own stairs at home and are afraid to climb them without help. There are many products that can be helpful in this case. In this article you can find out more about help with climbing stairs.
With increasing age or due to illness, many people find that climbing stairs in their own home becomes more and more challenging. In this case, the purchase of a stairlift is often the solution. But what does a stairlift cost? In this article, we will look at what a stairlift is and what alternatives for stairlifts exist and at what price.
Are you looking for a stairlift? Find out the 6 most important things you should know before you buy and get to know the alternative to a stairlift.
With the help of the TOPRO Step stair climber, he can now go up and down the stairs on his own. Previously, Peder (8) had to crawl up the stairs and could only go up and down the stairs to his nursery at home with the help of his parents.
TOPRO Step in rehabilitation. Neuroscience can now prove that rehabilitation is all the more successful the earlier mobilization is started. Another point that should not be overlooked is the fact that therapy now attempts to allow patients to participate in normal life and everyday activities at an early stage, because we humans are social beings. This is therefore essential for rapid rehabilitation.
With increasing age or for people in need of care, sooner or later the question arises of what happens if you can no longer climb the stairs in your own home independently. Should you wait until the time comes or take the precaution of adapting your living space before it’s too late?
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