- Age
- Gender
- Ethnicity
- Family history
- Past medical history of CVA or MI
- High total cholesterol or LDL
- Low HDL levels
- Hypertension
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Obesity
- Diabetes mellitus
- Excessive alcohol consumption
Tag Archives: CVA
Risk Factors for CHD
Symptoms of TIA
| Definite | Probably Not | Alarm symptoms (may require admission) |
| Slurring | Dizziness | Known AF; or high stroke risk |
| Clumsiness | Confusion | Recurrent TIAs; more than 2 in last 2 weeks |
| Tingling/numbness | General weakness | Patient on anticoagulant. May need brain scan |
| Visual disturbance | ABCD2 score of 4 or more |
Thanks to Practice Nurse 41 8
ABCD2 Scoring tool for calculating risk of CVA
| Age | >60 years | 1 point |
| Blood pressure | >140/90mmHg | 1 point |
| Clinical signs | Unilateral weaknessSpeech disturbance | 2 points1 point |
| Duration of symptoms | 0-59 mins60 mins or more | 1 point2 points |
| Diabetes | Diabetes | 1 point |
Score 4 or more indicates significant risk of CVA
Thanks to Practice Nurse 41 8 for this.
The Use of Antiembolism Stockings
AE stockings are commonly used as a thrombolprophylaxis in secondary care settings. These may be prescribed after a patients’ risk of VTE has been assessed.
Patients are advised to wear them 24 hours daily from the time they are administered to the time the patient is no longer considered to be at an increased risk of developing VTE. AES may be prescribed in conjunction with pharmacological thromboprophylaxis for added protection in those assessed to be at greater risk.
Unless contraindicated, surgical patients are generally prescribed pharmacological thromboprophylaxis as well as mechanical thromboprophylaxis (AES or intermittent pneumatic compression – IPC).
CVA patient generally are not prescribed AES because they have not been shown to be effective in such patients and can increase the risk of skin breakdown.
Other patients to avoid AES are those with peripheral neuropathy or peripheral arterial disease, or friable skin.
AES need to be fitted correctly and the right size is essential. They work by exerting graduated circumferential pressure onto the legs which supports the veins and therefore improves venous return, which decreases venous stasis. They also decrease venous dilation and therefore help to prevent activation of clotting factors.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – Jean-Dominique Bauby
One of the best books in the world. Mr Bauby was the editor of French Elle magazine when he had a massive stroke leaving him with a paralysis so severe he was only able to communicate by opening and closing one eye. And that’s how he dictated this book. The book is beautifully and at times humorously written, and a s a result is poignant and uplifting rather than depressing. The book is a masterpiece, but also, in the writing of it, Mr Bauby found himself to be a better, more honest person than he thought.
Stroke/CVA
- Stroke is the third biggest cause of death in the UK.
- Each year around 150,000 people in the UK have a stroke.
- Men are more at risk of stroke than women, although in the middle-age bracket more women than men have strokes.
- Stroke affects mainly older people, but a quarter of strokes happen to under-45s.
- People of Asian or African/Caribbean descent are at an increased risks of stroke.
- Risk factors of stroke: smoking, obesity, lack of exercise, poor diet, diabetes, hypertension
