Glossary

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  A

Activities of daily living (ADL) The tasks that we all have to perform to lead a normal life, such as washing, dressing, using the toilet, bathing, walking and climbing stairs

Advocate Someone who can support you and act on your behalf

Agnosia The inability to recognise an object by touch alone with both hands

Alexia Difficulty reading

Amaurosis fugax A temporary loss of vision in one eye due to a blood clot blocking the flow of blood to the eye. There is complete recovery within 24 hours

Amnesia Loss of memory

Aneurysm A bulge in the wall of an artery. One of the causes of an artery leaking

Angiography An X-ray or ultrasound examination of the arteries

Angiomas An abnormal collection of blood vessels that can be a cause of haemorrhage in the brain

Angioplasty A technique whereby the doctor inserts a catheter into the narrowed portion of the artery and stretches the artery by inflating a little balloon on the end of the catheter

Anticoagulant A drug that is used to ‘thin' the blood and thus reduce the risk of clots forming within the circulation. The most commonly used is warfarin; another is heparin

Anticonvulsants Drugs given to prevent epileptic fits

Antihypertensives Blood pressure lowering (usually referring to medicines)

Antiphospholipid syndrome A condition that results in the blood becoming stickier than normal as a result of antibodies that form against the body's phospholipids (which are molecular fats).

Antiplatelet therapy Drugs used to stop the platelets in the blood sticking to one another and forming clots. Aspirin is the most widely used. Others include clopidogrel (Plavix) and dipyridamole (Persantin)

Aorta The artery taking the blood from the heart

Aphasia The inability to use language. It can either be a problem understanding language (receptive) or speaking it (expressive). People are often affected by both sorts

Apraxia The inability to do complex tasks when requested and there is no paralysis of the muscles

Arteries  Blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body

Ataxia Loss of the control of muscle function, leading to a staggering walk and difficulty performing delicate tasks with the hands

Atheroma The fatty deposits that build up inside an artery and eventually lead to it becoming blocked

Atrial fibrillation Where the heart is beating irregularly. There is an increased risk of a blood clot forming inside the heart, which can break off, travel to the brain and cause a stroke

Blood pressure The pressure inside the arteries, pushing blood through the circulation. Pressure is highest when the ventricles in the heart contract (systole) and lowest when they relax (diastole). The two pressures are measured in millimetres of mercury and shown as follows e.g. 120/80.

Brainstem The part of the brain linking the two halves of the brain to the spinal cord. It contains some vital nerve cells to do with breathing, the heart, the eyes and many other important functions

Bruit The noise that can be heard when listening over a narrowed artery

C

Cardio-embolic stroke Stroke due to a clot that formed in the heart and travelled to the brain

Carotid artery There are two carotid arteries that supply the front half of the brain with blood. Disease of a carotid artery is a common cause of stroke

Carotid endarterectomy The operation that is performed to clear the inside of the carotid artery of atheroma

Catheterisation The insertion of a tube inside the body. Most commonly this is into the bladder to drain the urine directly into a bag

Cerebellum The part of the brain that controls fine (delicate) movement and balance

Cerebrum The largest part of the brain, made up of the left and right hemispheres (sides)

Cholesterol A fatty substance that, if present in excess, can be deposited in the wall of the artery to produce atheroma

Coma A state where someone is deeply unconscious

Computed tomography (CT) The X-ray technique most commonly used to examine the brain

Contractures Where a joint becomes fixed in one position by muscles that have become stiff from not being moved

CVA The abbreviation for 'cerebro-vascular accident'. The term is widely used but is not a good one: many strokes do not affect the cerebrum and none of them is an accident! Stroke' is a better term

D

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) A clot of blood in the veins, usually in the leg

Delirium A temporary state of confusion, often linked with other illnesses such as infection

Dementia A long term (chronic) state of confusion, which can result from, for example, multiple strokes or Alzheimer's disease

Dietitian A therapist who has specialist knowledge of nutrition

Disability The inability to perform normal functions, such as walking dressing, shopping

Discharge The point at which treatment or therapy ends

District Nurse A nurse who provides skilled, flexible nursing care to people within the community and at home

Diuretics Drugs given to make you pass more urine. They are used to control heart failure and high blood pressure

Dysarthria Speech disorder in which the pronunciation is unclear although the meaning of what is said is normal

Dyslexia Difficulty in reading

Dysphagia Difficulty in swallowing

Dysphasia or aphasia Difficulty in using language. It can either be a problem understanding language (receptive) or speaking it (expressive). People are often affected by both sorts. Commonly associated with strokes affecting the left side of the brain

Dysphonia Difficulty in speaking loud (or soft) enough

Dyspraxia Difficulty doing complex tasks

E

Echocardiogram An ultrasound examination of the heart

Electrocardiogram (ECG) The test that records the electrical activity of the heart

Embolism When a piece of solid material, usually a blood clot, travels elsewhere in the body

Emotionalism Difficulty controlling the emotions – crying and laughing easily and sometimes inappropriately

Endarterectomy Surgical operation to remove obstructions (usually fatty tissue or blood clot) from inside an artery

Epilepsy A condition that causes fits which can be of many different types and can occur following stroke

F

Field of vision The area that you can see without moving your eyes (or head)

G

Gait The characteristics of walking

Goal setting The process whereby the professionals and the patient decide on the main objectives for rehabilitation

H

Handicap The social consequence of disability for the individual

Haematoma A blood clot that has formed outside a blood vessel (artery or vein)

Haemorrhage Where a blood vessel leaks, allowing blood to escape into the tissues – bleeding

Haemorrhagic infarct An area of dead brain that has had bleeding in it

Hemianopia Loss of one-half of the normal field of vision

Hemiparesis Weakness of one-half of the body

Hemiplegia Complete paralysis of half of the body

Heparin An anticoagulant given to prevent blood clots forming

Hughes' syndrome see antiphospholipid syndrome

Hydrocephalus Raised pressure within the skull. It can occur after a brain haemorrhage

Hypercholesterolaemia A high level of cholesterol in the blood

Hyperlipidaemia A high level of fats in the blood

Hypertension High blood pressure

Hypotension Low blood pressure

I

Impairment Loss of function (e.g., weakness, loss of sensation, loss of speech)

Incontinence Loss of control of passing urine or faeces

Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) This is someone who will represent and support the person who lacks capacity, and has no-one to consult, when decisions are being made about serious medical treatment or significant changes of residence.

Infarct/infarction An area of cell death (e.g. part of the brain) as a result of being deprived of its blood supply (see also transient ischaemic attack)

Intermediate Care Services working together to help people recover from illness and stop them going into hospital if it is not necessary or staying in hospital longer than they need to. 

Intracerebral haemorrhage A haemorrhage inside the brain

Ischaemia When part of the body has an inadequate blood supply

K

Key worker The member of the team who is responsible for making sure that health and social care professionals involved in your treatment and care know what plans and decisions are being made.  The keyworker is also responsible for keeping you and your family informed

L

Lacunar stroke A small stroke less than 1.5 centimetres in diameter when measured on the brain scan

Long Term-Care This is provided for people who are unable to live independently and who move into residential or nursing homes

Lumbar puncture A procedure whereby some of the spinal fluid is removed by the insertion of a needle into the spine 

M

Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) A type of scan that, instead of X-rays, uses a large, powerful magnet to create pictures of the blood vessels (arteries and veins)

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI ) A type of scan that, instead of X-rays, uses a large, powerful magnet to create an image (picture) of part of the body

Middle cerebral artery The artery that most frequently becomes blocked, to cause stroke

Myocardial infarction The medical term for a heart attack

N

Naso-gastric tube A tube that is passed through the nose down the throat into the stomach usually to allow feeding

Neglect Ignoring sensory stimuli, such as not being aware of being touched on one side or not seeing things to one side. An extreme example is not even being aware that your arm or leg belongs to you

Neurologist A doctor who specialises in diseases of the brain and nervous system

Neurology The study of the structure, functioning and diseases of the nervous system

Neuroplasticity After stroke, dead brain cannot regrow. Unaffected brain tissue that surrounds the dead area takes over part of the lost function. This process is called neuroplasticity

Nystagmus Involuntary jerking of the eyes. It occurs in disorders of the part of the brain responsible for eye movements

O

Obesity Being more than 20% over your recommended weight

Occupational Therapist (OT) A therapist who specialises in helping people to reach their maximum level of function and independence in all aspects of daily life

Oedema Swelling

Opthalmologist A registered doctor who specialises in the investigation and treatment of diseases of the eyes

P

Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) A small open tunnel in the heart that allows blood clots to get from the veins into the arteries

Peer support Getting support from people in the same situation as you

Perception Awareness and understanding of one's environment (e.g. awareness of touch, sights, sounds)

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) Insertion of a tube through the wall of the abdomen into the stomach for the purposes of feeding. It is done with a gastroscope, which is a fibre-optic instrument used to examine the inside of the stomach

Pharmacist A person who is qualified in pharmacy and authorised to dispense medicines

Phlebotomist Some-one who is trained to take blood specimens from people's veins

Physician A qualified doctor who specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of disease by other than surgical means.

Physiotherapist A therapist who specialises in physical methods of treatment to promote healing and return to health

Platelets Small blood particles that stick together to form a clot

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) A scanning technique that uses radioactive isotopes to show how well cells are functioning

Power of Attorney The legal right to manage financial and other affairs on behalf of another

Primary Care Care delivered by the GP or healthcare professionals within community

Prognosis Expected outcome

Psychiatrist A medically qualified physician who specialises in the study and treatment of mental disorders

Psychologist A person qualified in the scientific study of the mind. A Clinical Psychologist is trained in the assessment and treatment of people with illness

Pulmonary Embolism A blood clot in the lungs

R

Rehabilitation The process of regaining function through active treatment

Rehabilitation unit A place where skilled and experienced staff work with you on dealing with the effects of strok e

Respite Care Care given to some-one for a short period usually away from their own home so their family can have a rest from the burdens of caring for them

Risk factors The possible underlying causes (for the stroke) such as smoking, high blood pressure, ethnic group, family history of stroke

S

Social Services The body run by your local authority or council which provides a number of services for those living at home including personal care, day centers, equipment and adaptations

Social Security A state department which works through the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to organise financial aid and assistance in the form of State benefits

Social Worker Usually professionally qualified employee of local Social Services Department who gives advice and practical help with social problems. They can also assess the eligibility of clients for social services

Spasticity The stiffness that develops in the muscles after a stroke or other type of damage to the brain or spinal cord

Speech and Language Therapist (SALT) A therapist who specialises in the rehabilitation of people with speech and language difficulties, helping them to improve their speech and language and/or to find alternative ways of communicating. S/he is also expert in problems with swallowing

Stenosis A narrowing

Stroke Unit A place, usually in hospital, where experienced and specially trained staff work with people when they have a stroke

Subarachnoid Haemorrhage Bleeding between the brain and one of the covering membranes, often due to a leaking aneurysm

T

T halamus (thalamic ) A part of the brain where the nerves carrying information about sensation from the body join with other nerves

Thrombolysis The use of drugs to break up a blood clot. It has to be given within 3 hours of the onset of stroke symptoms

Thrombosis The formation of a blood clot

Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA) The drug most commonly used for thrombolysis 

Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) A stroke-like episode that fully recovers with 24 hours of the start of the symptoms

V

Ventricular septal defect A hole in the muscle wall that separates the two chambers (ventricles) of the heart

Vertebral arteries The two arteries that travel up the back of the neck to the brain which, with the two carotid arteries, supply all the blood to the brain

Vertigo An abnormal sensation of movement

W

Warfarin The most frequently used oral anticoagulant