Paralysis (Stroke)
Overview
When a part of the brain is receiving less or no blood, the cells of that portion are not receiving oxygen necessary for survival. This leads to the cells beginning to die a few minutes are the blood supply stops. This process is called a stroke. When a stroke occurs in part of the brain responsible for controlling the muscles of the limbs (that allow movement), the patient becomes paralyzed.
Causes
The main cause of paralysis is a stroke. The following are causes of a stroke:
- Thrombus
- Embolus
- Uncontrolled high Blood pressure
- Overtreatment with blood thinners
- Weak spots in your blood vessels (aneurysms)
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of this disease depend upon which muscle is paralyzed. Some of them can be listed as:
- Inability to move one limb
- Inability to move 2 limbs
- Inability to move all 4 limbs
- Inability to walk
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of paralysis is made by symptoms.
Treatment
Treatment of paralysis is done once the patient has received treatment for stroke. It is done by physiotherapy, as there is no way to reverse the cell death caused by a stroke, so the only method is to return as much function as possible to the limb via physiotherapy.
