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Stroke

A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted, depriving brain cells of oxygen. Its like a sort of heart attack in the brain. This can happen due to a blood clot (ischemic stroke) or a ruptured blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke). Symptoms often appear suddenly, including weakness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking, vision problems, or a severe headache.

While immediate treatment is crucial, stroke care extends beyond the initial event. Many survivors face ongoing challenges and may be at risk for future strokes. This is where our cardiologists play a vital role in long-term care and prevention.

CVG cardiologists work to identify and manage underlying heart conditions that might have contributed to the stroke or could increase future risk. These may include atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure, or other cardiovascular issues. They provide comprehensive care by:

Assessing overall cardiovascular health
Recommending and monitoring lifestyle changes
Adjusting medications as needed
Guiding management and treatment of related conditions
Coordinating with other specialists involved in stroke recovery

This holistic approach aims to support recovery, prevent complications, and reduce the risk of future strokes. Our team understands that each patient’s journey is unique and tailors care plans to individual needs and circumstances.

Please read on for more information about stroke causes and treatments. We encourage anyone who has experienced a stroke or who is concerned about their stroke risk to schedule a visit with our cardiologists. Even if you haven’t had a stroke, understanding your cardiovascular health and taking preventive measures can make a significant difference. Our team is committed to supporting you in maintaining your heart health and overall well-being.

Causes And Prevention Of Stroke

A stroke is a medical condition that occurs when the blood supply to the brain becomes reduced, or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. During a stroke, parts of the brain become damaged or may even die, which can lead to long-term brain damage, disability, and death. This is due to the lack of oxygen that the brain receives from the arteries, as clogged arteries cannot deliver the necessary amount of oxygen-rich blood.

Types Of Stroke

An ischemic stroke is the most common form of stroke, and it occurs when blood clots or other debris obstructs an artery leading to the brain. This prevents the brain tissue from receiving the oxygen and other nutrients it requires to function.

A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a ruptured artery begins to leak blood into the brain which puts excessive pressure onto the brain cells, causing the cells to become damaged.

A transient ischemic attack (TIA or “ministroke”) similar to a stroke, the blood supply is interrupted long enough to result in injury but the blood supply resumes quickly enough that the brain tissue is bruised but not killed. While TIAs do not lead to any lasting damage, they are concerning as they indicate another event, perhaps more permanent may be coming.

Risk Factors For Stroke

There are many factors that can increase your risk of experiencing a stroke. These are the same factors that lead to blocked heart arteries: age, tobacco, diabetes, increased cholesterol, increased blood pressure, family history of artery disease, gender (male or female after menopause), and physical inactivity. Also, overconsumption of alcohol, use of illegal drugs, obstructive sleep apnea, previous COVID-19 infections and use of birth control pills are risk factors.

Causes Of Stroke

For an ischemic stroke, it is caused by the narrowing or blockage of the blood vessels in the brain which leads to severely reduced blood flow. Blocked or narrowed arteries are caused by fatty deposits, also known as plaque, that build up in blood vessels. They can also be caused by blood clots or other debris that has traveled from other areas of the body and reached the blood vessels in the brain.

A hemorrhagic stroke can be caused by many different factors that may lead to a ruptured artery. These include untreated high blood pressure, overuse of blood thinners, physical trauma such as a car accident, and protein deposits in blood vessel walls that weaken the walls. It may also be caused by an ischemic stroke that leads to hemorrhaging or a bulge at the weak spots in your blood vessel walls, known as aneurysms, rupturing the arterial walls.

A TIA or ministroke is caused by a temporary decrease in blood supply to the brain, which may last as little as five minutes. Similarly to an ischemic stroke, this occurs when a blood clot or other debris blocks blood flow to your brain or nervous system, although in this case, it is only partially blocked. Having a TIA increases your chances of suffering from a regular stroke.

Testing For Stroke

When you get to the hospital to receive treatment for your stroke, your doctor will conduct a variety of tests to determine what type of stroke you are experiencing. These tests can include a physical exam, blood tests, CT scan, MRI, carotid ultrasound, cerebral angiogram, and echocardiogram.

Treatment For Stroke

Strokes are always treated by neurologists and neurosurgeons. Cardiologists help not with the acute treatment but with identifystroke time to treatment is CRITICAL. Going to an office or urgent care only delays appropriate therapy. The ER via 911 is the appropriate course of action. Emergency treatment for your stroke depends on whether your stroke is ischemic or hemorrhagic. For an ischemic stroke, doctors must work quickly to restore blood flow to your brain. They can accomplish this through emergency IV medication, carotid endarterectomy, an angioplasty, or endovascular procedures such as delivering medication directly to your brain through a catheter or removing the clot with a retrival device. The sooner blood flow is restored, the less permanent damage is done.

For a hemorrhagic stroke, you may be given medication to lower the pressure in your brain. Your doctor may also have to conduct other treatments such as surgery, surgical clipping, coiling, surgical AVM removal, and stereotactic radiosurgery.

The most important part of treatment for your stroke is that it is conducted in a timely manner to reduce the risk of permanent debilitating effects.

Symptoms Of Stroke

When experiencing a stroke, it’s important to note the exact time your symptoms began, as certain treatment options are most effective when given as soon as possible after the stroke begins. Signs and symptoms of stroke include headaches, trouble walking, and problems seeing in one or both eyes, such as blurred or blackened vision or seeing double.

You may also experience paralysis or numbness in your face, arms, or legs which often affects only one side of the body. To test this, try and raise both arms over your head simultaneously; if one arm begins to fall, you may be experiencing a stroke. You may also notice that one side of your face droops when you try to smile. If you believe you or a loved one are suffering from a stroke, call 911 immediately.

Complications Of Stroke

Depending on how long your brain was cut off from oxygen and blood supply, you may suffer from temporary or permanent disabilities. These complications include pain, difficulty talking or swallowing, emotional issues, memory loss or reduction of cognitive abilities, paralysis or loss of muscle movement, and changes in your behavior and self-care ability.

Prevention Of Stroke

The methods of prevention for stroke are similar to prevention for heart disease. They include a variety of lifestyle recommendations such as managing your blood pressure and cholesterol, maintaining a healthy weight, managing diabetes, eating a healthy diet, receiving treatment for sleep apnea, and avoiding alcohol, illegal drugs, and tobacco.

If you’ve experienced a TIA or ischemic stroke, your doctor may also recommend that you take prescribed medications to reduce your risk of another stroke. These medications include anti-platelet drugs, which may prevent blood clots from forming, and anticoagulants, which reduce blood clotting.

Why Choose CVG?

With eleven locations throughout the Atlanta area, CVG serves residents across the region with state-of-the-art heart care. Our doctors have over 100 years of combined experience, and you receive care provided with genuine compassion. We aim to protect and improve your health while empowering you to actively participate in your care.

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Invasive therapies may also be used to treat an abnormal heart rhythm, such as electrical cardioversion which sends electrical impulses through your chest wall and allows normal heart rhythm to restart, or catheter ablation which disconnects the pathway of the abnormal rhythm. If your doctor determines that electrical devices are the best course of action, you may be given a permanent pacemaker, an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), or biventricular (B-V) pacemakers and defibrillators.

How CVG Can Help

CVG offers various services that can check and treat causes of fainting. At CVG, we perform stress tests that will observe blood flow and test for Atrial Fibrillation. We perform three types of stress tests:

A treadmill test is one in which you will walk on a treadmill that gets faster and steeper every 3 minutes. This will stress your heart so our nurse or doctor can determine your EKG and blood pressure.

An echo test is performed before and after your treadmill test to determine how well your heart pumps blood.

A nuclear stress test is a treadmill test preceded by an injection of medicine that shows blood flow to the heart.

We also offer cardiac catheterization, in which a catheter is inserted into the heart to take pictures and conduct tests. This procedure allows doctors to gain more information about your condition and suggest treatment options if the fainting episode is due to heart conditions.

If these tests determine a problem, we offer treatment solutions for several conditions. Learn more about our services here, or schedule an appointment to talk to our doctors.

Loactions That Treat Arrhythmias

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4745 Nelson Brogdon Blvd. Suite 300 Sugar Hill, Georgia 30518

Office Duluth

3855 Pleasant Hill Road Suite 250 Duluth, Georgia

Office Dacula

2108 Teron Trace Suite 100, Dacula, Georgia

Office Grayson

1132 Athens Highway Suite 207 Grayson, Georgia

Office Snellville

1608 Tree Lane, Building C Snellville, GA

Office Suwanee

1120 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard Suite 208 & 209 Suwanee, Georgia