Oxnard, California, is a city of about 170,000 residents. It is located near the Pacific Ocean and is home to many famous beaches such as California State University Channel Islands and Oxnard Beach Park. This city is also known for its history in strawberries and carrots. Oxnard has a relatively large regional medical system with many clinics and hospitals that offer neurocritical care. Oxnard neurocritical care units provide patients a wide range of services that you might need when:
You Have a Stroke
A stroke is a type of brain injury where blood cannot properly flow to or from the brain due to either a blockage of an artery or bleeding in the brain. In most cases, this occurs because of a clot, but some strokes can happen because of a ruptured blood vessel. The symptoms often develop suddenly and worsen over time. If left untreated, it can lead to paralysis of the arms or legs, trouble speaking, memory loss, and even death. There are times when medication is needed immediately, but treatment starts with neurocritical care in most stroke cases.
Brain Tumor
A brain tumor is a mass of unhealthy cells that form in the brain, which can cause serious health complications due to its location. The symptoms depend on where the tumor is located and how it affects nearby tissues and functions of the body. There are different kinds of tumors: cancerous and non-cancerous, slow-growing and fast-growing, and more. Treatment for brain tumors is done differently depending on the type of tumor, but doctors often choose neurocritical care to help lower elevated intracranial pressure that occurs with some tumors.
Brain Hemorrhage or Bleeding
Blood vessels inside the brain can tear, causing a serious medical condition known as a hemorrhagic stroke different from an ischemic stroke. The symptoms depend on how much bleeding is happening and the size of the area affected. Still, it can lead to weakness or paralysis of one side of your body, speaking or understanding language problems, blurred vision, and even death. Treatment for this condition includes neurocritical care units that help prevent secondary brain injury.
Neuromuscular Diseases
Neuromuscular diseases are caused by damage to the nerves and muscles. Some examples of these diseases include:
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a genetic disorder that mainly affects the body’s movement. It appears in children, teens, and young adults who later present muscle weakness and atrophy.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that causes loss of voluntary movement and muscle weakness. It also affects one’s coordination, swallowing, and breathing.
Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune disorder that can lead to paralysis in the legs, arms, or face. An existing infection may trigger this disorder.
People who have these conditions need neurocritical care for respiratory support, pain relief, secondary infections or complications, and monitoring.
Brain Injury or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
TBI is caused by a blow to the head that can cause damage to the brain tissue, which can lead to serious health problems such as brain swelling, trouble breathing, and even death. There are a variety of treatments for this condition that include neurocritical care, which helps with the acute medical issues that happen after a traumatic head injury while minimizing secondary injuries while you recover.
With all these conditions that require neurocritical care, it’s crucial to find the right hospital in Oxnard, California, that offers neurointensive care with highly-skilled specialists who can determine the best treatment plan for you. You will need it if you have any of the above conditions.
