Stroke - Managing Complications

Stroke is a medical emergency that requires prompt treatment to reduce the severity of disabilities and death. In the UK, around 100,000 strokes occur each year which equate to one stroke occurring every five minutes. One in eight strokes are fatal within the first 30 days, the risk of recurrent stroke is greatest within the first 30 days of having a stroke, and two-thirds of all stroke survivors will have some form of disability. Stroke is a major cause of morbidity and about 80% of strokes are preventable.
An important component of the long-term treatment of patients who have suffered a stroke is managing complications; which include cardiac, pulmonary, dysphagia, aphasia, post-stroke seizures, dry mouth and excessive saliva production, depression, faecal and urinary incontinence, and post-stroke pain. Another key consideration is the prevention of secondary vascular events. For all types of stroke, good control of blood pressure reduces the risk of subsequent strokes. The treatment strategies involve medication; however this leads to polypharmacy which has can increase the risk of adverse drug reactions.