Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability in
India.
The estimated adjusted prevalence rate of stroke range, 84-262
per 100,000 in rural and 334-424 per 100,000 in urban areas. The
incidence rate is 119-145 per 100,000 based on the recent population based
studies.
It is a matter of Time. With
Strokes, Time is Brain. Neither can be wasted!
Stroke is defined as a neurological deficit attributed to an
acute focal injury of the central nervous system (CNS) by a vascular cause,
including cerebral infarction, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), &
subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Ischemic strokes results from an obstruction
(blood clot) within a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain & accounts
of 87% percent of all stroke cases. Hemorrhagic strokes are caused by a
ruptured of a weakened blood vessel. Transient ischemic attacks (TIA) are
caused by a temporary clot.
With a stroke there are two regions of tissue that are affected.
The umbra which is a core of tissue that is infracted (dead or dying) by the
stroke. Penumbra is tissue region that is functionally impaired but potentially
viable tissue that normally surrounds an area of recent cerebral infarction.
Ischemic Stroke: Treating an acute stroke with HBOT is a viable
option in which the outcome is dependent on the time to
reperfusion/recanalization which prevents conversion of penumbra to umbra. As
started above, the amount of recovery for a stoke patient is dependent on
dosing, the timing (window of opportunity), and prior treatments. But the key
factor is timing, the earlier a patient enters hyperbaric treatment, the
greater the chances of recovery & the better the recovery. Every day that
goes by, the window of opportunity diminishes.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) works by saturating a person’s
blood and plasma with oxygen resulting in increased oxygen delivery to tissues.
In fact, because HBOT forces oxygen into the body under pressure, oxygen dissolves
into all of the body’s fluids including the blood plasma, the lymph, and the
cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. All of these fluids
carry the extra oxygen to the tissues and cells of the body, even where
circulation is poor or blocked.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) provides the oxygen necessary
to keep the neurons alive and functioning. In addition, HBOT significantly
increases the stem cells in the blood that are mobilized from the bone marrow
by 800%. These new cells move to the brain and contribute to the growth of new
neurons and recovery from the stroke.
What benefits can I expect from oxygen therapy for stroke?
* Relief of oxygen starvation or hypoxia and activates dormant
neurons in the
penumbra zone.
* Increased microcirculation or capillary development to
increase blood flow.
* Decreased brain swelling or edema by constricting nearby blood
vessels.
* Reduction of free radicals that continue to cause tissue
damage.
* Stimulation of nerve impulses through the brain and spinal
cord.
* Protection of the integrity of cell membranes so they can
function properly.
* Relief of muscle spasticity.
* Reduces stroke recurrences
The most important criteria being,
for stroke survivors, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy reactivates the idling neurons,
stimulates growth of new blood vessels, prevents cell death, and improves
neurological function.
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