Vertebrobasilar stroke is a serious condition affecting specific parts of the brain called the vertebrobasilar arterial system. This highly dangerous stroke is certain demographics -- knowing your risk factors can help you take precautionary measures.
The stroke
A vertebrobasilar stroke is the blockage of large blood vessels in specific areas of the brain, including parts of the pons, thalamus and cerebellum.
Effects
Around 80 percent of vertebrobasilar strokes are fatal. When not fatal, the patient is usually left with serious mental and physical dysfunction. These may include paralysis, speech disorders and difficulty swallowing.
Risk factors
This type of stroke becomes more common with age. It is slightly more prevalent among men. All stroke varieties are in African-Americans than in whites. A family history of strokes, high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, coronary artery disease, diabetes and obesity all increase an individual's risk factor.
Early symptoms
Some symptoms of vertebrobasilar stroke present themselves at the onset of the stroke, serving as a potential warning to a patient. Incontinence, nausea, loss of facial sensation, loss of control of eye movement, and tongue weakness have all been reported as possible early symptoms of a vertebrobasilar stroke.
Treatment
After surviving such a stroke, a patient undergoes a course of physical therapy and rehabilitation. The patient may need to regain acute control of his eyes, mouth and hands, requiring extensive rehabilitation. The physical therapist will help the patient, if necessary, with speech therapy, simple physical activity and visual tracking exercises.
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