Via practica 10/2007

CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASES IN PRACTITIONER´S OFFICE

The general practitioner role in the management of patients with threatening or completed stroke is outstanding. The knowledge of basic clinical subtypes of acute strokes, their pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapy is crucial for their adequate treatment. Imaging methods enable to differentiate ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. Immediate recognition and diagnosis of transient ischemic attacks is the precondition for successful prevention of recurrent strokes. The key role in the prevention of strokes is the management of modifiable risk factors, such as hypertension, cardiac diseases, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and carotid stenosis. The lifestyle changes, physical exercise, cessation of smoking and restriction of alcohol intake play a very important role, too. The author analyzes the organization of acute medical services for stroke patients, as well as the methods of subsequent care and rehabilitation. It is expected that broader implementation of thrombolysis and new interventional and neuroprotective therapeutic measures will reduce neurologic sequelae and improve the prognosis of patients suffering from strokes.

Keywords: stroke, ischemic stroke, thrombolysis, risk factors.