Stroke is a life-altering condition that can leave a patient with permanent brain damage. It occurs when the brain is temporarily deprived of oxygen due to an interruption in the blood flow. Unless the treatment is administered treatment right away, there is nothing that can be done to stop the brain damage. Stroke is the second most common cause of death globally after Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). However, with the advancement in stem cell research, there is a ray of hope for stroke patients. Patients who were paralyzed and unable to move after a stroke episode are now able to walk or move their hands and legs after receiving stem cell transplant. The stem cell treatment shows a lot of promise in redefining the treatment for neurological conditions.
Types of Stroke:
Ischemic Stroke: It happens when there is a clot (Thrombotic) or blockage (Embolic) in any blood vessel carrying blood to the brain.
Hemorrhagic Stroke: It happens when a blood vessel ruptures and bleeds into the brain.
Act FAST when you see these signs:
Facial Drooping
Has the patient’s face fallen or drooping towards one side?
Arm Weakness
Is the patient having difficulty in raising their arms or keeping it steady?
Speech Problems
Is the patient’s speech slurred or difficult to understand?
Time to Reach a Stroke-Ready Hospital
Rush them to the nearest hospital with neurologists.
Common causes of stroke:
You are more likely to suffer a stroke if you are:
- Diagnosed with hypertension or high blood pressure
- A smoker
- A heart patient
- A diabetic
- Over the age of 55
- From a family of stroke patients
Treatment of stroke:
The treatments available for stroke have to be administered within a short window of four to five hours to be effective. Any damage to the brain till the oxygen flow is restored, is irreversible. Hence, there is an urgent need for alternative treatments like stem cell therapy (using stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood.)
In a research conducted by the scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine, stem cells were injected into the damaged parts of the brain of 18 stroke patients. These patients showed remarkable recovery as the stem cells regenerated and restored brain function in the damaged area. The treatment showed positive results as patients who were confined to their wheelchair started walking soon after. Researchers are hopeful about stem cell treatment and believe that it can improve the quality of life for countless stroke patients and free them from disabilities.
Author Bio:
Rachitaa Singh is a freelance content writer by her profession and has over 6 years of experience into blogging and article writing. Over the years, she has gained popularity as a content creator who specialises on topics such as parenting, pregnancy and new-born childcare. However, her forte is on writing articles on umbilical cord blood, stem cell banking and more.
