Any Dr.'s out there that can contact me so that I can ask a question regarding ischemic strokes?

Question

Okay so my question is this. My brother passed away in August of an Ischemic stroke and I was told that typically drug addicts (crack cocaine) usually have these types of strokes. There was supposedly a toxicology report done and the only drug they found was week old THC in his system. But he was a recovering crack addict for the past nine years, he also did it very intensely for nine years. Is it possible that nine years after his addiction he could have had one or is it likely he did the drug that day and had it. I have been trying to research this and everything I find states the person had just done the drug and had the stroke. I firmly believe he was straight and wasn't doing it I just want to understand how or why this happened to him. My cousin states he's found articles that even though a person quits years later it can still get them, I haven't had success in finding these articles and he hasn't sent them to me.

Answer 1

Appears obvious that you know what (TIA) "Transient ishemic attack" is. So I would think that you desire to know the symptons.

A TIA starts suddently and usually last 2 to 30 minutes. Rarely does it last more than 1 to 2 hours. The symptoms vary, depending on which part of the brain is deprived of blood and oxygen. When the arteries tht branceh from the carotid artery are affected, blindness in one eye or sensation abnormalities and weakness are most common.

When the arteries that branch from the verebral arteries in the back of the brain are affected dizziness, double vision, and general weakness are more common. |Overall, however many different symptoms can occur, such as the following:

Loss of or abnormal sensations in an arm or leg or one side of the body.

Weakness of paralysis of an arm or leg or one side of the body.

Partial loss of vision of hearing

Double vision


Dizziness

Slurred speech

Difficulty in thinking of the appropriat word or saying it

Inability to recognize parts of the body

Unusual movements

Loss of bladder control

Imbalance and falling

Fainting

While the sysmptoms are similar to those of a stroke, they are temporary and reveresible. However, TIAs tend to recur. A peson may have several in 1 dayor only two or three in several years. About one third of the time, a TIA is followed by a stroke. Roughly half of such strokes occur within1 year of the TIA.

Hope the above info., is of help to you.

Clinical Psychiatrist, France

Answer 2

Stroke is a loss of brain function due to an interruption of the brain's blood supply. It can be caused by using the illegal drug cocaine.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Cocaine is a product of the coca plant and is an illegal recreational drug. It is not a narcotic (a drug which causes drowsiness and sleep, typically heroin or other opiates) although it is sometimes referred to as one.

Cocaine is a strong stimulant, which produces increased activity of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system (the nerves that run away from the spinal cord).

Cocaine can be taken into the body in several ways and in several forms. Powdered cocaine (hydrochloride) can be snorted, injected, eaten, or applied to mucus membranes such as the vagina or rectum. The "freebase" form (often called crack) can be smoked.

The amount of cocaine required to produce an effect varies with the individual, the purity of the drug, and the means of taking it into the body. A smaller amount is used with injection into a vein or with smoking.

Cocaine use can cause a number of medical problems, including transient ischemic attacks (TIA), strokes, cardiovascular (heart and blood vessels) collapse, irregular heartbeats, and heart attacks. Stroke secondary to cocaine probably occurs because cocaine causes blood vessels to narrow (constrict) while also increasing blood pressure (hypertension). This vasoconstriction can be severe enough to reduce or block blood flow through the arteries in the brain.

Stroke secondary to cocaine is most common in men under 40 years old. Risks include a history of recent cocaine use. In a few people who experience stroke after using cocaine, an underlying arteriovenous malformation is found, which may have predisposed them to developing a stroke. In these cases the stroke is due to bleeding in the brain as opposed to decreased blood flow.

Cocaine use can also lead to lung damage from smoking, damage to veins, transmission of blood-borne diseases (due to dirty needles), damage to a unborn baby, and very high body temperatures(hyperthermia). Cocaine also causes mood swings, delirium, migraine-type headaches, and seizures.

Although it does not produce the dramatic withdrawal symptoms seen in heroin addiction, cocaine is extremely addictive and users who stop may experience severe drug craving, depression, and lethargy.

Answer 3

If you want, just send me a message and I will answer you in the measure of my possibilities. Since I live in Europe and I do not know where are you, take into consideration the time difference and my own availability.
Besides my professional experience, my mother suffered several tiny ischemic strokes reason why I am close related with the subject. As you may, this disease not always can be fully prevented.
Fro

Answer 4

Sure. Call 440-230-1340. I am Dr. Sawan.