engleski

Stroke-a challenge in the diagnosis and therapy

Stroke is a clinically defined syndrome of rapidly developing symptoms or signs of focal loss of cerebral function with no apparent cause other than that of vascular origin, but the loss of function can at times be global (applied to patients in deep coma and to those with subarachnoidal hemorrhage). Symptoms last for more than 24 hours or lead to death. The syndrome varies in severity from recovery in days, through incomplete recovery to severe disability and death. Stroke is the leading cause of disability and the third cause of mortality worldwide. In Croatia, the situation is even worse: stroke is the leading cause of mortality and disability. Stroke is also the leading cause of dementia in the worldl. These grim facts make stroke not only a medical but also a major socioeconomic problem. However, it has been proved that stroke can be prevented. By modifying lifestyle and treating diseases that are risk factors for stroke, the incidence of stroke and stroke mortality has decreased in western countries. On the contrary, in transitional and developing countries, the incidence and mortality of stroke have been constantly increasing. Based on current figures, it is estimated that there will be an epidemic of stroke in developing and transitional countries in the forthcoming decades. In Croatia, the incidence and mortality of stroke have also been on an increase in last years ; as mentioned above, stroke is the leading cause of mortality as well as of disability.

stroke; diagnosis; therapy

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