Cerebellar Stroke
(Stroke, Cerebellar)
Definition
| Cerebellum |
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Causes
- Ischemic
- Hemorrhagic
- A clot that forms in another part of the body (eg, heart or neck) breaks off and blocks flow in a blood vessel supplying the brain (embolus)
- A clot that forms in an artery that supplies blood to the brain (thrombus)
- A tear in an artery supplying blood to the brain (arterial dissection)
Risk Factors
-
Certain conditions, like:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries due to plaque build-up)
- Atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm)
- Obesity
- Metabolic syndrome
- Type 2 diabetes
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- Blood circulation problems
- Medicines (eg, long-term use of birth control pills )
- Lifestyle factors, such as smoking , physical inactivity, diet high in sodium
- History of stroke, heart attack , or other type of cardiovascular disease
- History of transient ischemic attack (TIA)—With a TIA (“mini-stroke”), stroke symptoms often resolve within minutes. It may signal a very high risk of having a stroke in the future.
- Age: 60 or older
- Family members who have had a stroke
- Gender: males
- Race: Black, Asian, Hispanic
- Blood disorder that increases clotting
Symptoms
- Uncoordinated movements of the limbs or trunk (ataxia)
- Difficulty walking, including problems with balance
- Abnormal reflexes
- Tremors
- Vertigo (feeling of spinning or whirling when you are not moving)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Intense headache
- Speech problems (eg, slurred speech) and difficulty swallowing
- Problems sensing pain and temperature
- Difficulty hearing
- Problems with vision (eg, eyes move rapidly, difficulty controlling eye movement)
- Problems with eyes (eg, small pupil, droopy eyelid)
- Loss of consciousness
Diagnosis
- CT scan —a type of x-ray that uses a computer to make pictures of the brain
- CT angiogram—a type of CT scan that evaluates blood vessels in the brain and/or neck
- MRI scan —a test that uses magnetic waves to make pictures of the brain
- MRA—a type of MRI scan that looks at blood vessels in the brain and/or neck
- Heart function tests (eg, electrocardiogram )
- Doppler ultrasound —a test that uses sound waves to examine blood vessels
- Blood tests
- Kidney function tests
- Tests to check your ability to swallow
Treatment
- Dissolve a clot (for ischemic stroke)
- Stop bleeding (for hemorrhagic stroke)
Medications
- Dissolve clots and/or prevent new ones from forming
- Thin blood
- Control blood pressure
- Reduce brain swelling
- Treat an irregular heart rate
- Work against any blood-thinning drugs you may regularly take
- Reduce how your brain reacts to bleeding
- Control blood pressure
- Prevent seizures
Surgery
- Reroute blood supply around a blocked artery
- Remove the clot or deliver clot-dissolving medicine
- Remove fatty deposits from a carotid artery ( carotid artery endarterectomy )
- Widen and keep open a carotid artery ( angioplasty and stenting )
- Remove a piece of the skull to relieve pressure on the brain ( craniotomy )
- Place a clip or a tiny coil in an aneurysm to stop it from bleeding
Rehabilitation
- Physical therapy—to regain as much movement as possible
- Occupational therapy—to assist in everyday tasks and self-care
- Speech therapy—to improve swallowing and speech challenges
- Psychological therapy—to improve mood and decrease depression
Prevention
- Exercise regularly .
- Eat a healthy diet that includes fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and fish.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- If you drink alcohol , drink only in moderation (1-2 drinks per day).
- If you smoke, quit .
- If you have a chronic condition, like high blood pressure or diabetes, get proper treatment.
- If you are at risk for having a stroke, talk to your doctor about taking statin medicines .
RESOURCES
American Heart Association http://www.americanheart.org/
National Stroke Association http://www.stroke.org/
CANADIAN RESOURCES
Health Canada http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada http://ww2.heartandstroke.ca/splash/
References
Am I at risk for a stroke? National Stroke Association website. Available at: http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=risk . Accessed April 15, 2011.
Anatomy of the brain. The University Hospital website. Available at: http://www.theuniversityhospital.com/stroke/anatomy.htm . Accessed April 15, 2011.
Barrett A. Acute cerebellar ataxia. EBSCO Health Library website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/healthLibrary/ . Updated March 10, 2011. Accessed April 15, 2011.
Effects of cerebellar stroke. Ohio State University Medical Center website. Available at: http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/PatientEd/Materials/PDFDocs/dis-cond/stroke/EffectsCerebellarStroke.pdf . Accessed April 15, 2011.
Effects of stroke. Magee Rehabilitation website. Available at: http://www.mageerehab.org/effects-of-stroke.php . Accessed April 15, 2011.
Effects of stroke. National Stroke Association website. Available at: http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=EFFECT . Accessed April 15, 2011.
Effects of stroke. Ohio State University Medical Center website. Available at: http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/patientcare/healthcare%5Fservices/stroke/effects/Pages/index.aspx . Accessed April 15, 2011.
Effects of stroke. Rush University Medical Center website. Available at: http://www.rush.edu/rumc/page-1098987413801.html . Accessed April 15, 2011.
Jensen M, St. Louis E. Management of acute cerebellar stroke. Archives of Neurology website. Available at: http://archneur.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/62/4/537.pdf . Published April 2005. Accessed April 15, 2011.
Prevention of stroke: recommendations. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/ . Updated April 7, 2011. Accessed April 15, 2011.
Stroke (acute management): treatment overview. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/ . Updated April 7, 2011. Accessed April 15, 2011.
Stroke: causes. Mayo Clinic website. Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stroke/DS00150/DSECTION=causes . Updated July 1, 2010. Accessed April 15, 2011.
Stroke: treatments and drugs. Mayo Clinic website. Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stroke/DS00150/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs . Updated July 1, 2010. Accessed April 15, 2011.
Wood D. Stroke. EBSCO Health Library website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/healthLibrary/ . Updated March 28, 2011. Accessed April 15, 2011.