Post-stroke Seizures

Photo from the Internet Stroke Center

According to the website of the Internet Stroke Center, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) latest statistics estimated that every year there are about 15 million people who had experienced a stroke. It is also estimated that of these large number of stroke victims, at least 5 million succumb to their stroke and that at least another 5 million people are left with permanent disability.

A stroke victim can be left with one or several disabilities depending on the gravity inflicted by their stroke such as problems with mobility, speech, logic and others can arise after a person experiences a stroke.  These disabilities target certain parts of the body – the face, the upper extremities, the lower extremities, etc.  However, what is not seen by other people is that the stroke has a lasting imprint on the brain of the stroke victim.

Aside from the noticeable disabilities identified another potential problem patients and caregivers should be wary about are seizures and epileptic attacks after their stroke. Among the elderly, experiencing a previous stroke is the usual cause of experiencing a seizure attack in the future.

What are seizures?
The brain works in a systematic way. It receives data from our five senses (sight, smell, touch, hearing and taste), collects these data, analyzes them and then sends out corresponding “reactions” back to our five senses.  However, during a seizure, the electrical activity in the brain becomes disorganized which causes a person’s body to spasm. Instead of giving out the correct message (reactions) to specific body parts, the brain is now causing the body to spasm.

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Aphasia After a Stroke: a Common Disability

Speech Therapy

A stroke leaves a lasting imprint in both stroke survivor and his or her immediate family. The brain is primarily affected by the stroke but the whole body bears the brunt of the damage caused by the incident. Some of the lasting effects of a stroke are paralysis, weakness, pain, problems with activities of daily living, cognitive problems, emotional difficulties and speech problems.

One of the most noticeable problems affecting stroke survivors is aphasia which is a form of speech disability resulting from the stroke. Continue reading →

Robotic Therapy could Improve Arm and Shoulder Mobility of Stroke Victims more than Traditional Therapies

A stroke is a life-changing event. It alters the lives of the stroke victims and his or her loved ones. There are numerous disabilities that linger after a stroke has occurred. One of  the major deficits associated with a stroke is physical mobility. Depending on which side of the brain the stroke occurred, the stroke survivor may have left-sided or right-sided weakness. A more distressing outcome for a stroke patient is complete paralysis of one side of the body.

This is very disheartening to both the stroke victim and his or her family. But recent developments in the field of healthcare have helped stroke patients recover some form of mobility in their affected extremities. Continuous physical therapy sessions have also helped stroke survivors regain a form of independence in performing their daily activities.

And with the advent of newer technologies, stroke patients may look at a brighter future. One of the latest technologies being tapped to aid in the rehabilitation of stroke victims is robotics. And the initial assessment of this latest technology in the field of healthcare showed positive results.

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