What is a hemorrhagic stroke?

Posted February 02, 2013

DEAR DOCTOR K: My grandfather just had a hemorrhagic stroke and is in pretty bad shape. What is it, and how is it treated?

DEAR READER: I'm sorry to hear this, but there's a chance he'll make a good recovery. There are two major kinds of strokes. In the most common type, a blockage in one of the brain's arteries shuts off the blood supply to a part of the brain. That's called an ischemic (is-KEE-mic) stroke. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when one of the brain's arteries bursts and spills blood into the surrounding tissue.

How does atrial fibrillation increase stroke risk?

Posted January 02, 2013

Atrial fibrillation reading on heart monitor

DEAR DOCTOR K: I have atrial fibrillation. It doesn't bother me, but I still have to take medications because the condition apparently increases my risk of stroke. How does it do that?

DEAR READER: Atrial fibrillation is a heart rhythm disorder that causes a rapid and irregular heartbeat. The atria are the upper two chambers of the heart; they receive blood from the rest of the body. The atria pump blood into the lower two chambers of the heart (the ventricles). Then the ventricles pump blood to the rest of the body. During atrial fibrillation, the atria do not beat normally. Instead, they quiver or "fibrillate."

Can a stroke cause depression?

Posted December 27, 2012

DEAR DOCTOR K: My father had a stroke and has become depressed during his long recovery. Will antidepressants help? I'm asking because of the damage the stroke has done to his brain.

DEAR READER: I remember a patient like your father. Before his stroke, he was outgoing, active in his church and community, and always cracking jokes. Then he was hit with a stroke that paralyzed his left arm and leg. Fortunately, his speech and thinking were not affected, but his personality changed completely. He sat in bed saying very little to anyone who came in the room, including his family, friends and doctor. When physical therapists tried to get him to do exercises to build back the strength on his left side, he was mostly uncooperative.

What is a carotid endarterectomy?

Posted September 10, 2012

DEAR DOCTOR K: I had a mild ischemic stroke. Now my doctor wants to do a carotid endarterectomy. Is this necessary?

DEAR READER: It might be necessary, but I don't know enough about your case to say for sure. As I explain what an ischemic stroke is, and what a carotid endarterectomy is and when it is valuable, I hope you'll be able to tell if you could benefit.

What is stroke rehabilitation?

Posted July 13, 2012

DEAR DOCTOR K: My sister recently had a stroke and will be starting rehab soon. What can she expect?

DEAR READER: Rehabilitation helps restore abilities impaired by the stroke. How much progress your sister makes and how quickly it occurs will depend on the severity of her stroke and the part of her brain that was affected. Strokes can affect the strength of your muscles, your senses (like your sense of pain), your ability to speak and to understand speech, your vision, your emotions, your thinking and your level of consciousness.

What is a ministroke?

Posted April 27, 2012

DEAR DOCTOR K: My husband's doctor said that he had a ministroke. What does this mean?

DEAR READER: Most strokes occur when blood flow to a part of the brain is blocked. These are called ischemic strokes. When the flow of blood is blocked badly enough, for a long enough time, brain cells die. Not all blockages of the brain's blood vessels are bad enough, or last long enough, to cause death of brain cells. Instead, the part of the brain that isn't getting enough blood temporarily malfunctions. Such temporary blockages that do not lead to brain-cell death are called ministrokes.

Stroke