Stroke Epidemiology in Developing World - Case Study Example

Often patients with ischemic stroke develop should be assessed for a wide variety of medical physiological symptoms. Recent literature suggests that one of the greatest predisposing factors to ischemic stroke is often related to cardiac problems and diseases; which as a result give rise to characteristic neurological problems.PathophysiologySymptoms of ischemic stroke varied and attributed to many factors.

As Feigin (2005) points out, one or more of the observed risk factors may increase the chances of development of the disease, for most patients, there is no sure sign that a stroke would occur. Subsequently, Bharucha et al, (1988) also claimed that the most common risk of stroke is family history and age. Other studies also suggest that other important predisposing risk factors to the disease include, patients with high blood pressure, which has since then been reported in 70% of medical patients, high level of cholesterol in the blood, frequent cigarette smoking, diabetes mellitus, obesity, cardiovascular diseases in patients with a history of occurrence of heart attack, vascular malformation and alcoholics.

(American Heart Association, 2009)Equally, Sridharan, (1992) notes that acute stroke is a severe disease and as such 40% of the patients with stroke especially in the acute stage often develop symptoms that are associated with speech difficulties or even difficulties in food swallowing experienced in varying degrees. George’s diagnosis revealed that he had speech-related problems that could explain why his stroke would be at an acute stage and such fell into a coma. Despite these physical complications resulting from damage to brain tissue, other resulting complications caused by stroke include constipation, blood clot formation in the lower limbs, depression, pressure soreness, swallowing disorders among others.

Besides looking at the clinical symptoms characteristic of the disease, and examining doctor will look at the presence of predisposing risk factors of the disease including the level of blood pressure, blood sugar level, and level of cholesterol in the blood. Additionally, blood samples to determine the level of haemoglobin, platelets level and the time is taken for blood to clot, blood viscosity and the tendency of the bleeding. Another detailed examination is done to check the occurrence of heart attack through an electrocardiogram test.

Modern treatment programs focus on disease prevention and rehabilitation programs early enough after disease diagnosis. At George’s acute stage of disease development, prescription medication includes an anti-platelet form of drugs to prevent blood clotting, anti-coagulants and thrombolytic agents. George’s current medication consists of Clopidogrel, Simvastatin, Lisinopril and Escitalopram. However, surgery is also recommended for ischemic stroke patients to eliminate sections of the intima in the carotid artery to reduce stroke recurrence.

Additionally, rehabilitation programs restore a patient to normal daily functions through self-adaptation achieved through the collective responsibility of medical providers and family members.