Pathophysiology of Chronic Diseases: Stroke, Dementia, Parkinson's, and Multiple Sclerosis

Running head: PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Pathophysiology
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Introduction:
With the global burden of disease, the need of efficient management of chronic disease is
intensifying. The health statistics of United States suggested that a chronic disease is
persisting more than 3 months or more which cannot be prevented by vaccines or cured by
medication. 88% of Americans over 65 years of age have at least one chronic disease where
they shows health damaging behaviors particularly tobacco use, lack of physical activity
and poor eating habits. This paper will discuss incidence and prevalence, Etiology of the
disease and pathogenesis, signs and symptoms , possible therapy and prognosis in following
paragrpahs.
Cerebrovascular disease and stroke:
The cerebrovascular disease is leading cause of death after ischemic heart disease where it
ranked second leading cause of disease. There are two main type of stroke suchg as ischrmic
becsuse of lack of blood flow and hemorrhagic because of bleeding. The prevalence of
cardiovascular disease and stroke is roughly 3% of the adult population where incidence of
the disease is 30 to 120 of 100000 per years for 35 to 44 years and the incidence for 65 to
74 is 670 to 970 of 100000 per year. Ischemic stroke is more prevalent compared to
hemorrhagic stroke where In 2017 there were more than 56,000 new cases and
recurrent strokes were registered. 65% of them were survivor are suffering from major
disabilities (Love, Seth, and Scott Miners).
Etiology of stroke :
The etiology of stroke include :
 Hypertension
 Atherosclerosis
 Hyperlipidemia
 Cardiovascular disease
 Family history
 dyslipidemia,
 Diabetes
 Tobacco consumption

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PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
 Gender ( men are more prone to this disease compared to women)
Pathogenesis of the disease:
Cerebrovascular disease and stroke occur when blood supply of the brain is interreupted or
reduced because of the factors discussed above. The lower blood supply resulted in lack of
oxygen supply in the brain which further facilitate the death of brain cells and isxchemic
stroke. On the other hand, gemorrhagic stroke can be caused by arteriovenous malformation
when blood vessels of brain burst s and leaks blood into surroundings brain and a thrombosis
occur in brain.
Signs and symptoms:
People may experience
1. Muscular: difficulty in walking, paralysis with weak muscles ,problem with coordination
, stiff muscles
2. Visual : blurred vision and loss of vision
3. Speech: difficulty in speaking and speech loss
4. Whole body: fatigue , vertigo
Therapies available:
 The patient may be administrated with tPA (tissue plasminogen activator ) a potent
clot busting drug injected to a vein arm.
 The patient may be reffered to stroke rehabilitation where physicians, physiologist ,
neurologist, physiotherapist , counsellor involve in management of side effects of
stroke
Preventive measures:
 Lower blood pressure
 Exercise
 Moderate alcohol consumption
 Quit smoking
 Lose weight