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Author:
Dr. Michael L. Johnson

Strokes affect millions of people every year and can be deadly. Some occur suddenly; some have pre-stroke warning signs. TIA’s, or transient ischemic attacks, may or may not happen prior to a stroke. During a TIA, a blood vessels going to the head or neck becomes partially occluded, and this decreases the oxygen available to the brain. During a TIA, a patient usually experiences symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision, double vision or even a loss of consciousness.

There are two types of strokes. The first is ischemic. Ischemia occurs when the blood vessel becomes blocked and the brain doesn’t have enough oxygen to work properly. The blockage occurs from something occluding the vessel, and then the blood supply is shut off. Therefore, brain activity will be inhibited because the fuel supply is not adequate.

The second type of stroke is hemorrhagic. A hemorrhagic stroke is more severe than an ischemic stroke. With this type of stroke, the blood vessel actually bursts, causing bleeding within the skull. More damage occurs with this type of stroke.

People that have undergone a stroke have very similar characteristics. Usually, one side of the body does not work as well at the other side. For example, the right side may appear stiffer as compared to the other side. This stiffness or inability to move directly relates to brain function. If the right side of the body is rigid, this can be traced back to the left side of the brain. Short or long term memory may be impaired.

After a stroke, gait is often disturbed, speech is slurred, one side of the face appears droopy, and one leg is stiff, all of which are related to deficiency in brain function. Usually, one side of the brain has been affected. To gain back function of the areas damaged by the stroke, activities must be performed that influence those specific areas of the brain. Strokes have traditionally been with treated with pharmaceuticals, but the November 1998 issue of “The Journal of Neuroscience” documents that pharmaceutical-based treatment does not work unless coupled with behaviorally based physical change.

There are many non-pharmaceutical treatment modalities that are effective. Examples of these are visual stimulation on one side of the visual field, auditory stimulation in one ear, olfactory stimulation through one nostril, eye exercises through one visual plane, specific rehabilitative exercises firing to the efficient side, different word games, and different communication exercises. These modalities target specific areas within the brain and brainstem to achieve the exact amount of stimulation needed. All of these treatment protocols are referenced and scientifically based.

About the Author
Dr. Michael L. Johnson is a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist with over twenty years of experience in private practice, over 850 hours of neurological studies, and 3800 hours of postgraduate education. His best-selling book "What Do You Do When the Medications Don't Work? - A Non-Drug Treatment of Dizziness, Migraine Headaches, Fibromyalgia, and Other Chronic Conditions" is available wherever books are sold. © 2005 M. L. Johnson

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A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Stroke Report... Brain Basics: Understand Stroke. Know the Signs. Act in Time. Nearly 2,500 years ago the father of medicine, Hippocrates, recognized and described a stroke--the sudden onset of paralysis. Until recently, modern medicine had very little control over this particular ailment, but the world of stroke medicine is rapidly changing and new and more advanced therapies are being developed every day. Today, some people who suffer a stroke, can literally walk away from the attack with no or very few disabilities--if they are treated promptly. Doctors are beginning to offer stroke patients and their families the one thing that, until now, has been so difficult to give--HOPE. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is suddenly interrupted or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, spilling blood into the spaces surrounding the brain cells. In the same way that a person suffering a loss of blood flow to the heart is said to having a heart attack, a person with a loss of blood to the brain or sudden bleeding in the brain can be said to be having a "brain attack." The symptoms of a stroke include: sudden numbness or weakness(especially on one side of the body); sudden confusion or difficulty in speaking or understanding speech; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; difficulty in walking, dizziness or loss of balance; or severe sudden headache with no known cause. Because stroke injures the brain, the person suffering an attack is not able to perceive of his/her own problems correctly. To a bystander, the stroke patient may seen unaware or confused. A stroke victim's best chance for survival and recovery is if someone around him/her recognizes the stroke and acts quickly. Bystanders should know the signs and act in time. If you believe someone is having a stroke--if they lose the ability to speak, or move an arm or...