According to an article reported in several of the national papers and on the BBC website; lowering the temperature of the brain can lead to a greater recovery for people affected by strokes. A pilot study has suggested that a reduction in temperature (35C) using cold saline or ice-packs on the body, appears to put the brain in a form of protective hibernation. It is estimated that this induced hypothermia will help over 40, 000 people in Europe each year; as the therapy has been considered suitable for most stroke victims. I have cared for several elderly people who have had strokes and not one of them had exactly the same symptoms. They suffered from a range of speech problems, paralysis and swallowing difficulties however each was affected differently. A treatment which is versatile in reducing the damage to the brain looks like really exciting possibility.
There is already strong evidence that cooling helps reduce the amount of permanent brain damage for those with serious head injuries. The pilot study shows that this technique had potential to help those suffering from strokes, however more research is needed.
No comments:
Post a Comment