HOW COMMON IS STROKE IN CANADA

According to recent research supported by Heart and Stroke, there are now 108,707 strokes reported annually in Canada, or about one every five minutes. This emphasizes the requirement for robust stroke care, treatment and rehabilitation systems nationwide in addition to greater prevention. The frequency of strokes has grown and will continue to rise as a big section of the population ages. Any age can experience a stroke, and younger individuals are experiencing them increasingly frequently.

The number of Canadians living with stroke has risen to 878,000 as more people are surviving stroke. Stroke is one of the main causes of adult disability, half of stroke survivors in Canada require assistance with everyday tasks including bathing, eating, dressing, etc.

WHAT IS STROKE ?

Stroke is a potentially fatal disorder in which there is insufficient blood flow to a portion of the brain. This condition is frequently brought on by a clogged artery or brain hemorrhage. Without a constant blood flow, the damaged area’s brain cells begin to die from oxygen deprivation. To avoid irreversible harm or death, this condition must get early medical care since it is life-threatening.

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF STROKE?

The three stroke major types of strokes are :

• Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): Because the consequences are transient, it is also known as a Mini-stroke. This is often brought on by a brief reduction in blood flow to specific area of the brain.
• Ischemic Stroke : This type is characterized by diminished blood flow to brain as a result of blood vessel obstruction or constriction. Blood clots are the principle cause of blood vessel obstruction or narrowing. Plaque, which are fatty deposits in the arteries, may be the source of the clots.
• Hemorrhagic Stroke : This occur when blood arteries inside the brain or on its surface burst or leak, causing bleeding inside the brain or surrounding it. The leaking causes swelling and pressure, which harm the brain’s cells and structures.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF STROKE?

Ischemic strokes and hemorrhagic strokes causes may varies.

Ischemic stroke causes includes :

• Clotting disorders
• Heart defects like ventricular septal defect or atrial septal defect.
• Atherosclerosis
• Micro-vascular ischemic disease
• Atrial fibrillation

Hemorrhagic stroke causes includes :

• Brain aneurysms
• High blood pressure
• Diseases like moyamoya disease that affects the blood vessels in brain and produce abnormal alteration or weakening.
• Brain tumors

WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS OF STROKES?

Certain factors tends to increase the risk of the stroke in individuals. The factors includes :

• High cholesterol
• Type 2 diabetes
• Alcohol abuse
• High blood pressure
• Smoking or other forms of tobacco use
• Drug abuse
• Migraine headaches

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF STROKE?

Stroke symptoms varies depending upon the area affected. The common symptoms experienced by individuals includes :

• Aphasia
• Loss of muscle control on one side of face
• One-sided weakness or paralysis
• Loss of co-ordination or clumsiness
• Slurred or garbled speaking
• Nausea and vomiting
• Sudden loss of one or more senses either partial or total.
• Neck stiffness
• Confusion or agitation
• Blurred or double vision
• Emotional instability
• Personality changes
• Headaches
• Coma
• Memory loss
• Seizures
• Fainting

AYURVED APPROACH

In Ayurved stroke can be correlated with Pakshaghata. The vata dosha in the body becomes vitiated as a result of prolonged exposure to etiological causes. The vitiated vata travels to and lodges in the brain. Vata imbalance results in srotas (channels) and sanyu( tendons) drying up, which impairs movement and reaction in the vata-affected region.

The goal of Ayurveda treatment is to increase the blood flow to brain to reduce impact of stroke like numbness, weakness or paralysis. Ayurvedic treatment also helps to improve general health, muscular strength and tone, and cognitive function by stimulating and renewing brain cells.

HERBS :

• Rasna
• Brahmi
• Ashwagandha
• Bala

PANCHAKARMA FOR STROKE :

• Nasyam
• Shirodhara
• Abhyang
• Patra potali pind swedan
• Shiro vasti

MEDICATION PROVIDED BY CHANDIGARH AYURVED CENTRE FOR TREATMENT OF STROKE :

1. Active Plus Tablet:

CAC active plus Tablet is a pure herbo-mineral formulation prepared from best quality of herbs. This tablet is best for person mental and physical health, also helps to boost up the immunity. The herbal ingredients present in these tablets are used to maintain person’s health and refreshes the mind and body. These tablets improves digestion, eliminates constipation, stress, nourishes brain,  acts as antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, etc.

Recommended dosage: Take 1 tablet twice daily with normal water.

2. Heart Up Tablet:

Heart Up Tablet is a unique formulation and is very effective in the treatment of heart diseases and related symptoms. It acts as a cardioprotective and anti-arrhythmic medicine providing strength to the heart muscles and maintains heart rate. This medicine is very useful in relieving pain and maintains blood optimum viscosity.

Recommended dosage: Take 1 tablet twice daily with normal water.

3. Noni Capsule:

Noni capsule contain standardized extract of herb Noni (Morinda citrifolia) that is good for overall health of heart. These capsule deals with the blocked arteries of the heart. The formation of plaque is overcome with the use of these herbal capsules.

Recommended dosage: Take 1 capsule twice daily with normal water.

4. Nerve up tablet :

CAC Nerve up tablet is a herbo-mineral tablet and is purely ayurvedic formulation.  CAC Nerve up tablets help in balancing the vata doshas. It reduces kapha dosha, and acts as nervine stimulant. It shows effective results in improving the central nervous system. It contains natural ingredients like shudha kuchala, shudha shilajeet,  praval pishti, shankh bhasma etc. These contains natural vatahar properties and helps in curing vata diseases.

Recommended dosage: Take 1 tablet twice daily with normal water.

5. Kapha Balance tablet:

CAC Kapha tablet is a healthy blend of herbs formulated to balance Kapha doshas without aggravating Pitta and Vata doshas. It can also be used to alleviate any temporary Kapha imbalance. It is very effective in Kapha season that is late winter and spring. It consists of warming and astringent herbs that help to balance the system throughout the cold season. The main use of Kapha tablets is to remove excess Kapha doshas from the system and helps in the management of weight, healthy lungs, and the immune system.

Recommended dosage: Take 1 tablet twice daily with normal water.