Stroke is a chronic condition or medical emergency in which an adequate amount of blood cannot be supplied to the brain, which leads to stroke. Early treatment of stroke may help to prevent future complications like brain damage or death due to stroke. Stroke can happen to any age group. The risk of having a stroke is higher if you already suffer from hypertension, diabetes and abnormal heart rate.
What is a Stroke?
Our brain requires a sufficient amount of oxygen and nutrients through blood. When there is cut off in the oxygen and supply of blood flow is reduced, your brain cells are exhausted; it leads to loss of brain function and you develop a stroke. You face a struggle to do activities that are controlled by the part of the brain that is experiencing Stroke.
A stroke can affect your ability:
- Control your emotion
- Control your bladder, bowel movements and other vital functions
- It also affects the body movements such as speaking, eating, speaking and ambulation.
Causes Of Stroke
There are two reasons for stroke:
- Due to blocked arteries or blood clots, there is no proper supply of blood to the brain. Ischemic Stroke
- Due to the leakage of the blood vessel, Hemorrhagic Stroke
Ischemic Stroke: It is the common type of stroke. It occurs when the blood vessels are blocked due to clots or plaque, and the blood flow to the brain is stopped. Brain cells begin to die in minutes due to cutting off the oxygen and nutrients that the brain needs.
Hemorrhagic Stroke: When there is a sudden blockage of blood vessels in your brain leaks. Factors including brain haemorrhage include:
- Trauma: An accident due to trauma can cause brain injury.
- Uncontrollable high blood pressure can damage the blood vessels, which leads to stroke.
- Aneurysm bulges in blood vessels.
- Sometimes, Ischemic Stroke can lead to haemorrhage.
Symptoms of Stroke
The symptoms of stroke can differ in each individual as stroke happens suddenly. Individuals suffering from stroke can face any of the different symptoms mentioned below:
- Difficult to understand and speak
- People face problems in coordination and balance.
- You may feel a seizure or loss of consciousness
- Facing the numbness on the one side of the body, it may be legs, arms, etc.
- Difficulty with ambulation
- Mouth dropping
- Difficulty in seeing with one or both eyes
- Sudden confusion and severe headache
If you see any of the above symptoms, consult the medical healthcare immediately.
What are the Risk Factors Of Stroke?
Stroke can happen to anyone of any age. There are high chances of stroke if you have the risk factors of stroke. Some risk factors can be managed, while some cannot. Some such stroke risk factors that can and should be managed include:
- High Blood Pressure: The higher blood pressure range 140/90 can damage the artery that supplies blood to the brain.
- Cardiac Ailments: These are the second most common risk factors that individuals usually suffer from. Among stroke survivors, heart disease is the common cause of death. There are many common risk factors for heart disease and stroke.
- Sickle Cell disease: This disorder is mainly caused due to genetic issues. It mainly affects American and African children causing sickle red blood cells which are less able to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues to the organs. The risk of stroke is higher because these cells are stuck to the blood vessels walls, which can block arteries to the brain.
- Increase In Blood Cholesterol: High cholesterol can contribute to the atherosclerosis, the plaque is buildup due to the thickening and hardening of arteries. Due to calcium deposits, fatty substances and high cholesterol plaque is developed.
- Illegal Drug use: Drug abuse can lead to stroke, as cocaine is linked to many medical complications such as Stroke, heart attack and cardiovascular problems.
Risk Factors of Stroke That Cannot be Controlled
- Gender: Both men and women can have chances of stroke. But men are at higher risk of developing stroke while women are at a higher risk of death.
- Age: There are higher chances of developing stroke in older people, mainly the age above 55 years or above.
- Genetics: People have a higher risk of stroke if they have any family history or in their hereditary.
- Other factors include season, temperature, and climate. The more common Death rate is higher from stroke in extreme temperatures and climates.
Lifestyle risk factors of Stroke
These lifestyle risk factors of stroke you can manage and control:
- Obesity
- Physical inactivity
- Smoking
- Heavy Drinking
How can strokes be diagnosed?
- CT Scan
- MRI Scan
- MRA (Magnetic resonance angiography)
- CTA (Computed tomographic angiography)
These are the tests that can detect the stroke and help proceed with further treatment.
Treatment options for the Stroke
- Clot Busting medication: The stroke can happen due to blood clot and due to this oxygen cannot flow in the brain, so the clot bust medication can solve this problem.
- Neuroprotective Medication: These are the medicines to help prevent any damage to the brain.
- Other Medication: Special intravenous fluids are used to reduce swelling in the brain. These medications can be suggested usually after a hemorrhagic stroke.
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