SYMPTOMS

• Numbness in the face, arm and leg
• Difficulty comprehending what other people are saying and trouble speaking
• Incoherent speech
• Unresponsive behaviour
• Change in behaviour
• Fatigue
• Vomiting
• Seizures

TREATMENT

Treatment depends on the different causes of strokes. For example, a blood clot that prevents continuous blood flow to the brain, also known as ischemic stroke, can be treated through clot-dissolving medications (thrombolytic medications) to dissolve clots in the arteries of the brain.

Other forms of treatment include:

• A thrombectomy involves the insertion of a catheter into a blood vessel in the brain. Afterwards, the clot is pulled from the artery using an external device.
• The surgical insertion of a stent expands the walls of the artery, dilating the narrowed part of the blood vessel.
• Surgical coiling is used to treat a haemorrhage stroke. As a result, a coil-like instrument is placed in the weakened area of the arterial wall. The coil obstructs blood flow and reduces the amount of bleeding in the area.
• Surgical clamping involves the placement of a tiny clamp at the stem of the aneurysm. As a result, the clamp limits blood flow and prevents the blood vessel from breaking or bleeding.
• Surgery for Ischaemic strokes involves carotid endarterectomy where a small incision is made in the neck and the blood vessel opened and cleaned up before closure.
• Oral anticoagulants minimise the risk of the formation of a blood clot by thinning the blood. Dr Manyangadze will prescribe anticoagulants to prevent the blood clot from increasing in size or as soon as an ischemic stroke has occurred.