STROKE-INTRODUCTION
SUMMARY
1. The term stroke is applied to a sudden focal neurologic syndrome caused by cerebrovascular disease; 3rd most common cause of death.
2. Strokes can be ischemic or haemorrhagic.
3. The primary vascular disorder may be atherosclerosis, hypertensive arteriosclerotic change (thickening/hardening of arterial walls), arteritis, aneurysmal dilatation, or a developmental malformation.
4. Varicella zoster infection has been identified as a risk factor for ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes and TIA (increases risk by 30%), especially if the presentation is herpes zoster ophthalmicus.
Reference(s)
Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
Feather, A., Randall, D. and Waterhouse, M. (2020). Kumar And Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. S.L.: Elsevier Health Sciences. Get it on Amazon.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].
