The cerebrovascular accident

Cerebrovascular accidents are the third cause of death in developed countries. Its incidence increases with age, becoming more probable in people over the age of 65. Also, it is the most frequent cause of neurological disability in adults; in reference to gender, its incidence is greater in men than women.

A cerebrovascular accident (also called brain attack) occurs when irrigation to the brain is damaged. This happens because an artery is blocked and produces what is called ischemic stroke; or because an artery breaks producing a hemorrhage.

Depending on the extension and location of the lesion, is the degree of neurological consequence. The person can be left incapacitated to talk, read, see, write, think and remember; and in many cases death can occur a few hours later. That is why, the cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is defined as a medical emergency since time is of the essence in preventing brain damage.

“When a CVA is promptly received – adds Dr. Matera – it is possible to avoid death and irreversible damage, meaning, the death of cells in the affected zone. And that time is very limited: within the first three hours”.

That is why specialists insist on the importance of preventing this type of illness, with two objectives for the population at risk. First, increase cares on the arterial system for decreasing the causes of deterioration. And second, knowing the symptoms that signal these accidents so the person can immediately go to a placed skilled in attending these pathologies.

Collaborated in this article: Dr. Raúl Matera (h)

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