AVC

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or stroke is a brain injury caused by a vascular damage that can be divided into 2 types:
Ischemic stroke (AIS) is a brain injury caused by lack of blood circulation in a given region, due to the blockage of an artery.
It is the most common type, accounting for about 80% of stroke cases.
The AVCI can be divided into:
 Lacunar ischemic stroke: an ischemic lesion is (generally less than 0.7 cm) caused by occlusion of small vessels. It is a common type of stroke in smokers;
 Atherosclerotic ischemic stroke: can vary in length depending on the size of the artery with atheromatous plaque (fat accumulation in the vessel wall), which causes obstruction of the same. Usually is associated with obstruction of the carotid
Embolic ischemic stroke: is caused by obstruction of the cerebral arteries by emboli (blood clots in small fragments that float through movement and stop in place less than them). It is common in patients with heart problems such as heart arrhythmias and dilated.
Hemorrhagic stroke (CVA) is a bleeding in the brain due to rupture of a blood vessel. It is less prevalent, which may correspond to 20% of all stroke cases.
Treatment
When a stroke occurs, care should be immediate and performed in a hospital. The faster the service occurs, the greater the chances of survival and absence of disability.
Best practices show that treatment of stroke, for a full investigation of the framework, it is recommended that the patient be kept under surveillance until neurological diagnostic confirmation.
Regardless of the type of stroke some measures are essential for better development of the framework:
Maintenance respiration and oxygenation of the patient;
Strict control of blood pressure and body temperature;
Early realization of scan (CT scan, for example);
 Monitoring in Intensive Care Unit in the first 24 to 48 hours;
Control levels of blood glucose;
Maintaining hydration of the patient;
Promotion of early rehabilitation.
Ischemic stroke
Ischemic stroke is caused by a blockage of a brain artery.
In the acute phase, preferably within the first three hours after the onset of signs and symptoms, medication can be administered intravenously, that desobstruirá the artery. Between 3 and 6 hours, the vessel patency is accomplished by catheterization and opening the vessel at the site of the obstruction. After 6 hours or if the initial tests, independent of time, there are signs of permanent injury is not more extensive we unclog the toilet by bleeding risk.
AVCI lacunar - usually have less severe clinical features and treated with antiplatelet agents such as aspirin.
AVCI atheromatous - depends vessel obstructed, can be treated with antiplatelet and, in some cases, surgical or endovascular carotid or vertebral arteries.
Embolic ischemic stroke - usually chooses treatment with heparin-like substances which reduce coagulation to minimize the risk of emboli.
Hemorrhagic stroke
The best treatment in most cases is the tight control of blood pressure.
In more severe cases - such as those with major hemorrhage and increased pressure inside the skull - the surgical option is to minimize bleeding due to lesions associated.
Prevention
The best treatment is prevention. Healthy lifestyle with regular physical activity, avoiding obesity and smoking, and not drinking too much alcohol can prevent stroke. Do not forget to check blood pressure and diabetes.
Any previous episode of stroke greatly increases the chances of the patient developing a new stroke. Therefore, patients with these characteristics must follow medical guidelines to prevent such recurrence, keeping your cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels low, your weight in the normal range for height, your blood pressure closely monitored and their blood glucose levels always normal limits. These patients can not smoke and should not drink alcohol.