Is recovery after a stroke possible?

The ability to intervene in the acute stroke and to try to restore blood supply to brain tissue increases the likelihood that stroke victims can be rescued and brain damageminimized.

In patients who have physical, mental, and emotional deficits because of the stroke, rehabilitation offers hope of increased function and return to the level of activity that they had prior to the stroke.

Again, the best treatment for stroke isprevention and minimizing risk factors for not only stroke but for heart attack andperipheral vascular disease (PAD).

What is stroke rehabilitation?

The purpose of rehabilitation is to return the stroke patient as close as possible to their life and level of function before the stroke. The success of that goal depends upon the underlying health of the patient and severity of the stroke.

Rehabilitation may take weeks and months and usually requires a team approach for success. Physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech pathologists will coordinate care with the primary health care professional and physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists.


Some of the treatments are directed to prevent life-threatening complications. For example, speech pathologists may help with swallowing to prevent aspirationpneumonia. Physical therapists may concentrate on strength and balance to prevent falls. Occupational therapists may find ways to allow the patient to perform daily activities from personal hygiene to cooking in the kitchen.

Top 4 Causes of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is due to damage occurring to the developing brain.This damage can occur during pregnancy, delivery, the first month of life, or less commonly in early childhood. Structural problems in the brain are seen in 80% of cases, most commonly within the white matter. More than three quarters of cases are believed to result from issues that occur during pregnancy.
While in certain cases there is no identifiable cause, typical causes include problems in intrauterine development (e.g. exposure to radiation, infection, fetal growth restriction), hypoxia of the brain (thrombotic events, placental conditions), birth trauma during labor and delivery, and complications around birth or during childhood.
Preterm birth
Between 40% and 50% of all children who develop cerebral palsy were born prematurely. Most of these cases (75-90%) are believed to be due to issues that occur around the time of birth, often just after birth. Multiple-birth infants are also more likely than single-birth infants to have CP. They are also more likely to be born with a low birth weight.
In those who are born with a weight between 1 kg and 1.5 kg CP occurs in 6%. Among those born before 28 weeks of gestation it occurs in 11%. Genetic factors are believed to play an important role in prematurity and cerebral palsy generally. While in those who are born between 34 and 37 weeks the risk is 0.4% (three times normal).
Term infants
In babies that are born at term risk factors include: problems with the placenta, birth defects, low birthweight, breathing meconium into the lungs, a delivery requiring either the use of instruments or an emergency Caesarean section, birth asphyxia, seizures just after birth, respiratory distress syndrome, low blood sugar, and infections in the baby.
As of 2013 it was unclear how much of a role birth asphyxia plays as a cause. It is believed, however, that only a small number of cases are caused by lack of oxygen during birth. It is unclear if the size of the placenta plays a role.As of 2015 it is evident that in advantaged countries, most cases of cerebral palsy in term or near-term neonates have explanations other than asphyxia.
Genetics
About 2% of all CP cases are inherited, with glutamate decarboxylase-1 being one of the possible enzymes involved. Most inherited cases are autosomal recessive, meaning both parents must be carriers for the disorder in order to have a child with the disorder.
Early childhood

After birth, other causes include toxins, severe jaundice, lead poisoning, physical brain injury, stroke,[26] shaken baby syndrome, incidents involving hypoxia to the brain (such as near drowning), and encephalitis or meningitis. The three most common causes of asphyxia in the young child are: choking on foreign objects such as toys and pieces of food, poisoning, and near drowning.

Care for Children with Cerebral Palsy

Children diagnosed with cerebral palsy are often in need of much attention as compared to other children without this disability. Their special needs usually include assistance in the day to day activities, interaction with other children and communication. These can be daunting tasks at times and frustrating for most but any devoted parents understand that in line with providing them with all their essential needs, special attention must be focused on other more important aspects of their lives.
One of the most important things to understand with regard to children with cerebral palsy is that most of them have the intellectual capacity as well as the capability to develop emotionally. The lives of children with this form of disability can be challenging and stressful, especially on the part of the parents but this should not hinder them from encouraging their children to explore and in the process, enabling them to grow emotionally and intellectually although they are not physically able to do some things. But it must not be overlooked that if the child with cerebral palsy has other siblings with normal conditions, they too must also receive the appropriate amount of attention as what is given to the child with the disability. With so much attention on the child with cerebral palsy, some siblings often feel neglected and excluded from the bonding between their parents and their sibling with special needs. Some of these children may develop behavioral problems later on in life and it can add to the burden of parents.
Children with cerebral palsy require special care and attention and but this sometimes entails sufficient financial capacity on the part of the parents to pay for medical treatment and other related therapy. If the parents are not financially competent when it comes to funding for medication and therapy for their child, it always possible to explore the options with various charitable institutions that are dedicated in helping children with cerebral palsy. These organizations can grant significant help when it comes to your financial assistance and offer non–monetary help in the form of a referral for treatment and medication. It is also vital to seek valuable counseling that can help parents understand how they can be emotionally ready for the condition of the children and learn the basics of taking care of children with cerebral palsy.

Another way to take care of children with cerebral palsy is by exploring the benefits of supportive technology. At present, medical technology continues to evolve and improve considerably, especially when it comes to an advanced support system for children with this disability. A lot of daily tasks that were once impossible for kids with CP have become a lot less complicated and less challenging with the help of these technologies. Parents can provide their child with CP customized wheelchairs, so they can be more able to adapt to their environment. Other related technologies include voice communication enhancers and related computer programs that will allow them to learn how to do simple tasks unassisted and put a semblance of normalcy in their daily lives.

Occupational therapy and Speech therapy Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a lifetime disorder, but with customized care, its symptoms and complications can be minimized so patients can live the fullest, healthiest lives possible.
To help patients and their families on the way to optimum health, we’ve created a resource outlining the different treatment options available for patients with CP. We have also included links to Kentucky organizations that offer therapy for cerebral palsy in each category.
Occupational therapy
While physical therapy aims to improve overall motor function and muscle capabilities, occupational therapy focuses on helping children become more self-sufficient and completing everyday activities. An occupational therapist will show a child how to break down more complex activities into smaller, more manageable movements and how to adapt their bodies and movements to complete tasks.
Some particular activities that occupational therapy focuses on for children with CP include:
Grooming, such as brushing teeth and bathing
Grasping objects and tools, such as a pencil or phone
Using the computer
School activities, such as holding books, opening lockers, and riding the bus
Speech therapy
Cerebral palsy not only affects the muscles in the arms and legs, but it can also alter the language centers of the brain. Many children with CP learn to overcome difficulties with language through speech therapy. Some children lack the muscle control to create certain sounds, while others having hearing loss that makes it difficult to learn the proper speech sounds.

Like most treatments for CP, speech therapy is tailored to the needs of each child. Articulation drills can help children who want to master certain sounds. Children with severe CP may not be able to speak, so speech therapy focuses on teaching these children to use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices. Even simple communication techniques like winking or hand signals can be mastered in speech therapy so a child can communicate with caregivers and friends.

Best Ways to Treat Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy occurs due to the damage to the brain cells that control muscles and nerves. Most people think that cerebral palsy occurs because of damage to muscles or nerves in the body parts. This disorder is manly caused because of damage to the brain or improper development of the brain. The development of brain begins as soon as a baby develops inside a mother's womb. If for some reason, the brain of the fetus does not develop fully then it can result in cerebral palsy in the newborn. The brain is the part, which controls our muscles movements, and any damage to any part of the brain can cause this disorder.
If the part of the brain, which allows the child to talk, walk, stand and sit, are not developed properly or are damaged then your child will have difficulty doing these things. Depending upon the extent to which the cells in the brain are damaged, the disorder can be classified as being simple or severe. Normally when damage to the brain occurs it is a condition which remains for ever and there fore there is no cure as for cerebral palsy but treatment is available which can help elevate the pain but no permanent cure.
Cerebral palsy is not a progressive disorder as many think it to be. Once the damage to the brain has occurred, then it does not become any worse but the effects of cerebral palsy do. As one ages muscle coordination and body movement can worsen but in cases where effective treatment works, many people have found marked improvements.
Cerebral palsy Treatment in the form of therapies and medication go a long way to help elevate children from problems associated with this medical condition. There are a number of therapies, which can be used to help children, like speech therapy, music therapy, dance therapy, yoga therapy, and physiotherapy.
Children respond well to music, dance, and even yoga therapy. Children with cerebral palsy will find that they are unable to move their limbs because the muscles in their arms and legs become stiff and rigid and many of their reflex movements cannot be controlled. So when they walk you will find they are unable to move their limbs with ease like other normal children would do. Movements become greatly restricted. Muscle spasms are often seen in children with cerebral palsy and treatment needs to be given to control these muscle spasms or you will find them writhing in pain.
Speech therapy helps them to express themselves better and develops their motor skills physiotherapy helps them to exercise the affected muscles with proper exercises. With music and dance, they will learn to be more expressive while yoga therapy is known to do wonders to children with cerebral palsy. Yoga therapy helps stretch the affected muscles and helps relieve the stiffness in them allowing them greater movement.
A child with cerebral palsy should be given treatment at the earliest as soon as diagnosis is made. This gives them greater freedom and helps them to grow up with confidence about themselves.
Melvin Kops, the author of many articles regarding health, nutrition and medicine is an expert in his field. Well qualified in medicine, Kops has been writing about various diseases, their causes and their possible cures. Having a keen interest in writing, Kops has coupled his knowledge of medicine with his flair of writing to dispense information about various diseases and cures.

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What are symptoms of Cerebral Palsy

What Are Symptoms of Brain Atrophy

A neurological condition that results in brain tissue loss, brain atrophy can occur in small parts of the brain or affect both hemispheres of the brain, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Patients who have atrophied brains can have problems with cognitive functions, such as language and memory. Because patients have a destruction of brain tissue, the changes are permanent.

Aphasia
Aphasia affects patients' language skills. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders states that three types of aphasia can occur: Wernicke's aphasia, Broca's aphasia and global aphasia.
Wernicke's aphasia occurs when patients have damage to the temporal lobe, a part of the brain found by the ears. A fluent aphasia, since patients can still speak, Wernicke's aphasia affects patients' understanding of speech. When a Wernicke's aphasia patient speaks, she produces nonlogical speech, usually spoken in long sentences.
Broca's aphasia, on the other hand, results in nonsensical speech production in which patients cannot produce real words easily. A nonfluent aphasia, Broca's aphasia results from damage to the frontal lobe, the front-most part in the brain. Broca's aphasia patients speak in short phrases and have a hard time speaking.
Damage to both areas can result in global aphasia, causing severe problems with speaking and comprehension.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke notes that while dementia causes brain atrophy, it is also a symptom. Dementia causes patients to have problems with memory, language and personality. For example, patients can have problems with recalling memories and creating new memories, affecting their learning abilities. Dementia also causes poor judgment. The National Institutes of Health notes that dementia causes language problems: Patients can have difficulty reading and writing, leading up to patients no longer understanding language. By the last stage of dementia, patients have problems taking care of themselves.
Seizures

Seizures can also occur from brain atrophy. The National Institutes of Health notes that a seizure, which occurs when electrical activity is disrupted in the brain, rarely lasts 15 minutes. Some people may taste a metallic flavor just before the onset of a seizure.

What is Cerebral atrophy

Cerebral atrophy refers to the progressive loss of brain cells over time. Atrophy refers to a decreased size or wasting away of any part of the body. Cerebral atrophy can happen in either the entire brain or in just one part of the brain and can lead to decreased brain mass and loss of neurological function. The symptoms of cerebral atrophy depend on the cause and location of cell death.

Cerebral atrophy can occur due to brain injury, as in the case of stroke, or to a neurological disease, such as Alzheimer’s disease, cerebral palsy, or Huntington’s disease. Infections of the brain can also lead to the death of brain cells and cerebral atrophy.

Symptoms of cerebral atrophy include dementia, seizures, loss of motor control, and difficulty with speaking, comprehension or reading. Dementia, which is marked by memory loss and an inability to perform daily activities, may be mild or severe and may worsen with increasing atrophy. Seizures can range from absence seizures (sudden loss of responsiveness) to convulsive seizures.