Stroke
Stroke may occur due to reduction in the blood flow and oxygen transport to the brain after arterial occlusion (thrombus or embolus), arterial spasm, vessels rupture (aneurysm, hypertension), changes in blood viscosity, consequence of diabetes, or result of smoking, alcohol or obesity.
Manifestations of stroke depending on the location of the neural damage could be: paralysis (hemiplegia or paraplegia), paresis, spasticity, flaccidity or muscle weakness, walking and balance impairment, intellectual and cognitive impairment (thinking understanding), speech impairment, memory disturbance (“vascular dementia”), sensitivity impairment, bladder and bowel dysfunction, sexual deficit.
Clinical application of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy in stroke has been widely used on experimental basis in acute stage as well as in the chronic stage – post stroke rehabilitation.