There are two types of stroke: ischemic stroke, which is
the result of a blockage that disrupts blood flow to the brain, and
hemorrhagic stroke, which occurs when blood vessels rupture. One of
the most common causes of ischemic stroke is the blockage of a brain
artery by thrombus, or blood clot-a cerebral thrombosis. Clots
generally form around deposits sticking out from the arterial wall.
Sometimes a wandering blood clot (embolus), carried in the blood
stream, becomes wedged in one of the cerebral arteries. This is called
a cerebral embolism, and it can completely plug up a cerebral artery.
In hemorrhagic stroke, a diseased artery in the brain
floods the surrounding tissue with blood. The cells nourished by the
artery are deprived of blood and can’t function, and the blood from
the artery formS a clot that may interfere with brain function. This
is more likely to occur if the patient suffers from a combination of
hypertension and atherosclerosis. Hemorrhage(bleeding) may also be
caused by a head injury or by the bursting of an aneurysm, a
blood-filled pouch that balloons out from a weak spot in the wall of
an artery.
Brain tissue, like heart muscle, begins to die if
deprived of oxygen, which mey them cause difficulty speaking and
walking , and loss of memory. These effects may be slight or severe,
temporary or permanent, depending on how widespread the damage is and
whether other areas of the brain can take over the function of the
damaged area. About 30 percent of stroke survivors develop dementia,
a disorder that rovs a person of memory and other intellectual
abilities.
The following symptoms should alert you to the possibility
thatyou or someone with you has suffered a stroke:
· Sudden weakness, loss of strength, or numbness of face, arm, or leg.
· Loss of speech, or difficulty speaking or understanding speech.
· Dimness or loss of vision, particularly double vision in one eye.
· Unexplained dizziness.
· Change in personality.
Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAS)
Sometimes a person will suffer transient ischemic attacks(TIAs).
“little strokes” that cause minimal damage but serve as warning sighs
of a potentially more sever stroke. One of three people who suffer
TIAs will have a stroke during the following five years if they don’t
get treatment. The two major types of TIAs are
· Transient monocular blindness. Blurring, a blackout or
whiteout of vision, a
sense of a shade coming down, or another visual disturbance in one eye.
* Transient hemisphere attack. Diminished blood flow to
one side of the brain,
causing numbness or weakness of one arm, leg, or side
of the face, or problems
speaking to thinking.
Many TIAs are caused by a narrowing of blood vessels in the neck
(carotid arteries) because of a buildup of plaque. Specialists can
diagnose this problem by feeling and listening to the arteries, by
ultrasound, by measuring the pressure or circulation rate from the
carotid arteries to the eyes, or by arterial angiography (injection of
a dye into the arteries as X rays are taken), a procedure that can be
dangerous, even deadly, or lifesaving.
Surgery to widen the carotid arteries maybe recommended
for individuals under age 60 with significant narrowing (50 to80
percent or more). For other patients, aspirin and other drugs that
make platelets less sticky and interfere with clotting may be
effective.
RISK FACTORS FOR STROKES
People who’ve experienced TIAs are at the highest risk for
stroke. other risk factors, like those for heart disease, include some
that can’t be changed (such as gender and race) and some that can be
controlled
Gender. Men have a greater risk of stroke than women do. However,
women are at increased risk at times of marked hormonal changes,
particularly pregnancy and childbirth. Past studies have shown an
association between oral contraceptive use and stroke, particularly in
women over age 35 who smoke. The newer low dose oral contraceptives
have not shown an increased stroke risk among women ages 18 o 44. A
women’s stroke risk may increase markedly at menopause.
· Age. A person’s risk of stroke more than doubles every decade
after age55.
· Hypertension. Detection and treatment of high blood pressure
are the best means of stroke prevention.
· High red blood cell count. A moderate to marked increase in
the number of a person’s red blood cells increases the risk of stroke.
· Heart disease. Although the standard advice from
cardiologists is to lower harmful LDL levels, what may be more
important for stroke risk is a drop in the levels of protective HDL.
· Diabetes mellitus. Diabetics have a higher incidence of
stroke than non-diabetics.
Health is Wealth and i hope you know Prevention is better than Cure