Pathophysiology and Sign and Symptoms of Stroke

Stroke is primarily characterized by the inability of the brain to function properly, speaking problems, and loss of vision amongst others (Party, 2012). These symptoms can appear after the onset of a stroke. Pathophysiology is the convergence of physiology with pathology; where pathology describes the conditions of an illness and the physiology describes the mechanism operating within the disease. Stroke can also be described as the onset of numbness, aphasia, paralysis, and weakness together with blurred or hindered vision due to the sudden interruptions of blood flow in brain areas. The transient ischemic attack (TIA) is similar to a stroke. Stroke’s pathophysiology is usually very complex and includes excitotoxicity mechanisms, neuroprotection, apoptosis, ionic imbalance, oxidative damage, and the inflammatory damages (Deb, Sharma, and Hassan, 2010).

The results of ischemic stroke initiated by acute stroke are the neural death and the loss of the neural functions. The therapeutic strategies used to mitigate against stroke are developed primarily for two main reasons; reducing the fatal effects of stroke on the patient’s neurons and the restoration of the cerebral flow of blood in the brain (Deb et al. In the case, after Greta was diagnosed with the cerebral vascular accident (CVA), she was admitted in the hospital where she spent fourteen days in the acute care facility and also six weeks in the rehabilitation against stroke in the hospital. According to Campbell et al. As she ages, the chance of suffering from the menace increases. Additionally, the patients who have had a stroke in their medical history are also at high risk of developing stroke (Party, 2012).

Nearly 60% of the stroke cases occur on people who have a previous history of suffering from TIA (Cdc. Gov, 2018). In 2012, Greta suffered from a Trans ischemic attack. As the stress risk level increases so do the risks factors for stroke increases (Heart. Org, 2018). With chronic stress, an individual can suffer from hypertension, diabetes, heart diseases, smoking, atherosclerosis, and obesity as well as the high cholesterol level in the body (Tu, 2010). The stress hormone in the body increases the pressure of the blood. If these hormones persist in the body for a long-term, then it can lead to high blood pressure which in turn leads to stroke. After her daughter, Ann, was married to John she was not happy about his drinking problem and drug use.

As it can be assessed from her history, Greta has been subjected to continuous stress. Living alone in a foreign land without a relative is also depressing. To curb against the lack of relatives in Australia, Greta constantly attends the Latvian club for the monthly activities of the club. This is a form of reconnecting with her fellow Latvians. Over her life, Greta had been continually subjected to stress; from losing her spouse, her sister’s death to her son’s in law drinking problem. The sudden headache is, therefore, an indication of the stress she was suffering from. The stroke she is suffering from is centered on her stressful life. Thus, the sign of a sudden headache was an indication of her stress level hence causing stroke in the long run.