Abstract
The paper explains that a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is also known as a stroke and is an injury that occurs to the brain when there is an interruption in blood flow. The paper explains that the interruption in blood flow is caused by a hemorrhage in or around the brain and a CVA causes neurological deficits specific to certain areas of the brain where blood flow is interrupted. The paper reveals that CVA is a major cause of long term disabilities and are the third leading cause of death in the US annually (Randall, 2005).

From the Paper
"A cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is also known as a stroke. A CVA is an injury that occurs to the brain when there is an interruption in blood flow. The interruption in blood flow is caused by a hemorrhage in or around the brain. A CVA causes neurological deficits specific to certain areas of the brain where blood flow is interrupted. CVA is a major cause of long term disabilities. CVAs are the third leading cause of death in the US annually (Randall, 2005). CVA patients present symptoms of paralysis or weakness to one side of the body. The unfortunate reality of CVAs is that they are directly related to..."

Tags:cva, strike, adverse

Abstract
The paper outlines the pathophysiology of a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and identifies its signs and symptoms. The paper looks at the tests that are available to confirm the diagnosis of a CVA and examines the patient's course of treatment. The paper also discusses the nurse's role in the education and rehabilitation of the patient.

Outline:
Pathophysiology
Signs and Symptoms
Tests
Medicines, Treatments, and/or Surgeries
What a Nurse Would Do to a CVA Patient

From the Paper
"The fact that a patient is about to have a stroke is not always immediately obvious to casual or even medically-trained observers. The stroke may appear to occur suddenly, even though the conditions that precipitated the stroke have been building up over time. For example, an artery to the patient's brain can be blocked by a blood clot or as an indirect result of atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. This is called an embolic stroke: a blood clot or a piece of an atherosclerotic plaque detaches itself from the artery wall and travels through the circulatory system, plugging an artery of the brain. A blood clot can also form in a chamber of the heart when the heart beats irregularly. Bleeding in the brain from an aneurysm, a widening and weakening of a blood vessel in the brain, is another common cause of strokes (Definition, 2009, Medicine net).
The symptoms of the onset of the stroke will vary in severity and physical location in the patient's body, depending upon the cause. Some common symptoms that quickly manifest themselves to observers are weakness or paralysis of one side of the patient's body, loss of movement capabilities, and numbness or tingling in a limb or entire side of the body. There can be speech problems and signs of laxity in the facial or muscles. There may be a loss of muscular control, prompting the patient to drool. "A stroke involving the base of the brain can affect balance, vision, swallowing, breathing" and even cause unconsciousness (Definition, 2009, Medicine net).

Tags:treatment, rehabilitation, brain, arteries, blood, clot

Abstract
This paper describes the causes, diagnosis and medications used to treat cardiovascular accidents (CVAs), also known as strokes. The paper also gives an outline of the responsibilities of nurses caring for such patients and what is expected of them.

From the Paper
"A stroke or cardiovascular accident causes damage to the brain when the blood supply is reduced or stopped completely usually by the bursting of a blood vessel or the occlusion of a vessel by a blood clot . A thrombotic stroke occurs when a blood clot forms in an artery and blocks the blood supply to part of the brain. An embolic stroke occurs when a blood clot or piece of plaque breaks away in another part of the body and blocks an artery in..."

Tags:Cardiovascular accident (CVA), thrombosis, ischemic, hemorrhagic, antithrombolytics, anticoagulants

Abstract
This paper gives a brief discussion of dysphagia occurring after a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), or stroke. It details the process, the problems caused, and the therapy for such an event.

Tags:CVA, dysphagia, pharyngeal, oral

Abstract
This paper reviews several articles in medical databases that were located, read and compared in order to determine the importance of education to cerebral vascular incident (CVA) patients and their families. The paper discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the articles reviewed and concludes that additional studies must be performed to clarify what type of education and to what group and whether this education does anything more than inform.

From the Paper
"A cerebral vascular accident (CVA), or commonly known as a stroke, impact approximately 500,000 individuals in the United States each year. According to the Encyclopedia of Aging (Scherer, 1982), a stroke occurs with a neurologic deficit from a disruption of vascular function. This may be the result of a partial or total blockage of blood vessels to the brain by a hemorrhage or blood clot. In the U.S., 50 percent of those suffering their first stroke are 70 or older; most are males. The most at risk for a stroke are those individuals with transient or mild neurologic events, a cardiac disease that predisposes them to embolism, and asymptomatic with a carotid bruit that indicates a blockage. Those who have experienced transient ischemic attacks, or indications of cerebrovascular disease, also have a high risk for stroke."

Tags:knoledge, impact, education, risk

Abstract
This paper discusses the challenging issue of quality of life for stroke survivors. It specifically focuses on female survivors who are more prone to depression and poorer physical recovery. The paper examines stroke, also known as cerebral vascular accidents (CVA) in relation to quality of life experienced following a non-fatal, yet disabling, CVA. It specifically examines right-hand hemiparesis among females as it pertains to quality of life.

Table of Contents:
Abstract
Definition Of Types Of Stroke
What Is Quality Of Life?
Literature Review
Quality Of Life
Gender Differences
Recovery Of Movement

From the Paper
"In conclusion, nurses must be keenly aware of the individual definitions of quality of life and when working with a stroke survivor, remain diligent in drawing the patient out in effective communication to ascertain how they believe their quality of life is being or has been affects by the stroke. Nurses spend more time with patients than any other health care professional; nurses foster a greater sense of patient trust than other health care professionals (Dr. Danielle West, personal communication, October 10, 2006). Nurses should use that trust to provide caring interventions for their patients, acting as case managers or advocates for the stroke survivor."

Tags:CVA, neurology, depression

Abstract
This paper acts as an outline for a future research paper for a nursing student on the various treatment options and methods for patients who have suffered from a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), or stroke. This outline maps out what might be included on the final paper, including relevance to nursing, research methods and the conclusions that might be deduced from this research.

From the Paper
"Factors that Influence Recovery from Brain Damage Related to Stroke Outline What factors influence recovery from brain damage related to stroke? I. Background a. Prevalence in U.S. i. Controllable factors leading to stroke: poor nutrition, tobacco use, high stress, lack of exercise or sedentary habits. ii. 700,000 people have a stroke each year; 500,000 first-time strokes and 200,000 recurrent victims (Meadows, 2005). iii. Result of aging population, as well as growing number of African Americans and Hispanics, who are more susceptible (Adler, 2004). Two main types of stroke i. Ischemic occurs when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel or artery in the brain (Meadows, 2005). ii. Hemorrhagic occurs when a blood vessel ruptures and causes bleeding in the brain (Meadows, 2005)."

Tags:nursing, research, stroke