Ischaemic Stroke: Causes, Incidence, and Thrombolytic Therapy

Running head: ISCHAEMIC STROKE
Ischaemic stroke
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1ISCHAEMIC STROKE
INTRODUCTION
Ischaemic stroke is considered as condition where the blood is unable to reach heart
due to possible causes that leads to the condition of ischaemic stroke in Australia. Ischaemic
stroke occurs when the brain is unable to receive adequate amount of oxygenated blood due
to blood clot in the arteries. The arteries are blocked or narrowed down due to fatty or
cholesterol deposition known as atherosclerosis hence the brain cells are unable to produce
energy and ultimately stop working. Ischaemic stroke is considered as one of the leading
cause of demise in Australia. Approximately, 475,000 people were suffering from stroke in
Australia that is predicted to increase by the end of 2050 (Strokefoundation.org.au, 2019). In
this report, a detail insight is provided on the incidence of ischaemic stroke and the advantage
of thrombolytic therapy in treating the condition of stroke. Enableme is a resource that is used
by the patient to help in recovery by using the provided information, tools and videos that
will help the patient to stay strong and identify various means that will assist them in
recovering as soon as possible.
INCIDENCE OF ISCHAEMIC STROKE IN AUSTRALIA
Ischaemic stroke occurs when the blood vessel are unable to supply adequate
oxygenated blood to the brain due to blockage in the artery carrying blood to the brain. The
condition may either result in brain dying or impairment thus affecting the overall function of
the brain (Aihw.gov.au, 2019). Ischaemic stroke is considered as one of the leading cause of
death and hospitalization in Australia. According to the survey conducted by Australian
Bureau of statistics, approximately 394,000 people had suffered from the condition of stroke
affecting 195,000 females and 199,000 males. The prevalence rate of stroke in Australia has
been similar or constant from 2003 to 2015 (Aihw.gov.au, 2019). Ischaemic stroke was
considered as the third premier burden affecting people who are more than 85 years and

2ISCHAEMIC STROKE
above thus affecting 9.4% of women and 7.5% of men. In the year 2016, approximately 8,200
death were recorded due to stroke that was accounted for 5.2% of total demise occurring in
Australia. The rate of death in Australia due to ischaemic stroke has declined in between the
year 1980 to 2016, because of modifiable risk factor like tobacco consumption, physical
slothfulness, overweight, escalated blood pressure and obesity (Abs.gov.au, 2019).
CAUSES OF ISCHAEMIC STROKE
Ischaemic stroke is considered as the most prevalent category of stroke, which is
majorly caused due to fatty deposition termed as atherosclerosis. In older people, the arteries
gets narrowed down due to age but certain risk factors also accelerates the incidence of
ischaemic stroke. The risk factors are obesity, hypertension, smoking or consumption of
tobacco, inadequate physical activity, consumption of excess alcohol and a past family
history or condition of cardiac diseases (Arboix, 2015). Various medical conditions are also
considered as the risk factor leading to the onset of stroke such as chronic kidney disease,
diabetes and insulin resistance. Uneven heart beat or atrial fibrillation is also considered as
the cause of developing ischaemic stroke that includes pericarditis, high blood pressure,
mitral valve illness, coronary heart disease, hyperthyroidism, cardiomyopathy and excess
intake of alcohol and caffeine (Healthdirect.gov.au, 2019).
THROMBOLYTIC THERAPY
Thrombolytic therapy is one of the most widely used therapy for dissolving the clot
that leads to the condition of stroke (Li et al., 2015). The therapy involves use or
consumption of drugs that result in breaking the clot in the arteries and allowing the blood to
flow normally (Alper et al., 2015). Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA) is most widely used
thrombolytic drug also known as clot-buster, is a heart medicine provided to the patient in the
hospital that reduces the complexity of stroke (Stroke.org.uk, 2019). The drug is given to the