Stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and bleeds, or when there is a blockage in the blood supply to the brain. The rupture or blockage prevents blood and oxygen from reaching the brain tissue.Without oxygen, brain cells and tissue become damaged and begins to die within minutes.

Symptoms:

• Paralysis of one part of the body
• Numbness or weakness in the arm, face,leg,especially one side of the body.
• Trouble in speaking
• Confusion
• Slurred speech
• Vision problems such as trouble seeing in one or both eyes with blackened or blurred vision.
• Trouble in walking
• Loss of balance or coordination
• Dizziness
• Severe,sudden headache with an unknown cause

Causes:

There are two main types:

1. Ischemic stroke
2. Hemorrhagic stroke

Some people may have only a temporarydisruption of blood flow to the brain known as transient ischemic attack.

Ischemic stroke:

In an ischemic stroke, blood supply to part of the brain is decreased,leading to dysfunction of the brain tissue in that area.

Hemorrhagic stroke:

There are two main types of hemorrhagic stroke

1. Intracerebral hemorrhage which is basically bleeding in the brain itself due to either intraparenchymal hemorrhage or intraventricular hemorrhage.
2. Subarachnoid hemorrhage which is basically bleeding that occurs outside the brain tissue but in the skull and precisely between the arachnoid mater and piamater.

Diagnosis:

Diagnosis is done through neurological examination, CT scan,MRI scan, Doppler ultra sound and arteriography of the brain.

Prognosis:

The recovery from stoke vary widely depending on size and location of the lesion in the brain.

In Ayurveda, Stroke can be co-related to Pakshaghata / Pakshavadha / Ekanga /Sarvanga roga (Hemiplegia/Monoplegia/Paralysis of entire body)

When the aggravated vata paralyses one side of body,it causes immobility of that side along with pain, loss of speech.

Treatments:

4 to 8 weeks of admission in the hospital, during which the following line of treatment is followed:

• Controlling the causative factors (like hypertension) within normal limit
• Educating the patient and family members with regards to disease and its prognosis
• Emotional support to the patient
• De-stressing the patient
• Encouraging the patient to perform activities of daily living as and when patient condition improves
• Regular exercises, meditation and relaxation etc are advised
• Carefully selected Ayurveda Panchakarma therapies along with internal medicines are advised
• Yoga and physiotherapy are also the part of the treatment.

What to expect after the treatment program:

1. Improved higher mental function.
2. Improved cognition.
3. Improved mobility.
4. Improved bladder and bowel control.
5. Improved control over the affected limbs.
6. Improved speech and swallowing.
7. Improved quality of life.

Follow-Up:

Usually, follow-up treatment is advised after a gap of 6 to 9 months, depending upon the condition of the individual patient.

Three consecutive in-patient treatments are advised.

Please note:

Response to the treatment varies from patient to patient depending upon the duration of the illness, severity, stage and other co-morbid conditions.

 A lot of effort and participation from the patient’s side is needed to get the desired results. Patients who are too old & weak, who are mentally compromised / unstable, who are unable to follow basic commands, who are unable to respond to instructions cannot be taken up for treatment. Favorable results not expected with such patients.

  Patients above the age of 70 years may or may not get the desired results owing to old age.

  Patients having Cardiac (heart) problems and / or Renal (Kidney) problems may not be considered for treatment at our Institution.

  Patients having Psychiatric / Psychological issues may not be able to achieve the desired results.