Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease

What this unit covers

This unit sits in the Neurology strand of Internal medicine, pathology and clinical semiology. The resources focus on stroke: what it is, what causes it, how it presents and how it is managed. You will find ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage and transient ischemic attack (TIA), often shown side by side.

Where to start

Begin with a mind map, because most of the page is mind maps. The first Ischemic Stroke map branches into signs and symptoms, pathophysiology, thrombotic strokes, diagnostic tests and risk factors. Another ISCHEMIC STROKE map adds epidemiology, therapies and drugs, and nursing care. The Stroke map on symptoms separates general signs, such as nausea and sudden headache, from focal ones, such as facial drop and weakness.

If you want the hemorrhagic side, look at the Cerebrovascular Accident maps and the HEMORRHAGIC STROKE map. The Subarachnoid haemorrhage maps cover that topic on its own.

Using flashcards and quizzes

Once a map feels familiar, switch to flashcards. The deck called 4 - Stroke asks plain questions, such as what a stroke is, what a TIA is and when rt-PA is beneficial. The Ischaemic Stroke deck walks through definition, classification, presentation, investigations and treatment. Another Stroke deck covers TACS, PACS, POCS and LACS, plus imaging and medications after a stroke.

The quizzes are a small set, so use them as checkpoints. Try stroke and TIA after reading about symptoms, and hemorrhagic stroke protocol once you have covered management.

A simple order

1. Read one ischemic stroke mind map end to end.
2. Compare it with a hemorrhagic or TIA map.
3. Go through a flashcard deck on the same topic.
4. Take a quiz and note what you missed.
5. Return to the map branch that covers the gap.

Several resources are notes created from mind maps, which are handy for reading in a linear way. Teachers can use any of these as ready-made starting material.

Make it your own

Pick one map today, then try a quiz to see what stuck. If something is missing, you can build your own.