Hemorrhagic
StrokeThis type of stroke is also called " intracerebral
hemorrhage". The common history is that of long standing high
blood pressure, that is poorly controlled. This leads to accelerated arteriosclerotic
changes of the brain vessels and wherever the weakest spot is, that' s where suddenly
an arterial blood vessel blows a hole and it bleeds to that part of the brain.
The result is a devastating sudden stroke, which tends to very quickly lead to
a coma and often to death. This is the type of stroke that Ariel Sharon, the Israeli
Minister President suffered. Other causes are: chronic illicit drug use,
underlying collagen vascular disease or congenital vascular malformations. Symptoms: There
is an abrupt beginning with an acute headache followed by increasing neurological
signs. If the bleed is located in one of the brain hemispheres, paralysis of the
opposed side of the body develops. With a bleed into the brain stem, which
is also common, eye symptoms with blindness and double vision followed by excessively
deep breathing and coma will follow. The brain stem harbors vital centers such
as the breathing center and nerves that control eye movement and hemorrhage into
these vital areas are usually very lethal. Unfortunately, if patients with brain
stem strokes survive, they can be "locked into the brain stem". They
understand, hear, see, can think, but cannot express what they feel and think.
If the breathing center is permanently damaged they depend on a respirator from
then on and after weeks and months they often succumb to secondary infections.
Diagnosis: Emergency CT scan will show the cerebral
hemorrhage as a hyperdense area. The MRI scan can also be done, but it is more
difficult to perform and the radiologist needs to have more experience to interpret
the difference between hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes. Also, CT scans are more
available throughout the country. Here is an image of a CT scan from a patient
with a hemorrhagic
stroke of the left middle cerebral artery (arrow points to it). Treatment: Neurosurgical
evacuation of the clot, if it is bigger than 3 cm (=1 1/4 inches) in diameter,
often is life saving. However, in elderly patients bleeding often reoccurs as
the blood vessels are very brittle and such surgery may have a high mortality
rate. The neurosurgeon consulting regarding a patient would be able to
make specific recommendations after examining this patient and evaluating the
CT scan images. If surgery is not necessary, treatment would be similar as for
the ischemic stroke, except that thrombolytic therapy, of course, would not be
done. Also antiplatelet drugs like ASA would not be given. Headaches would be
relieved with narcotic medication; nausea and vomiting would be controlled with
prochlorperazine (brand name: Stemetil). Extensive rehabilitation is needed
to help minimize the long-term effect of the hemorrhagic stroke. Pain
relief: There is an FDA approved non-drug method available, IceWave
patches from Lifewave, which will control pain. This is mentioned in the
book "Breakthrough" by Suzanne Somers (Ref. 12) where newer insights
of antiaging medicine are also reviewed. Although the patches are placed over
acupuncture points, there are no needles involved. Nanotechnology, a newer technology,
was used in the manufacturing of these patches and infrared (heat) waves from
body heat are utilized to stimulate an acupuncture point, which modifies pain
perception and reduces pain to half or less. Medically this would be considered
an excellent pain reliever. For more info on the patches see the IceWave patches
from Lifewave link above (click "products"). In the US a 5 pack of the
IceWave spray is available that can be directly sprayed onto the skin in the area
where the pain is located. | 
