Stroke

Stroke

Symptoms
• Headache or confusion
• Problems with hearing or sight
• Trouble speaking, writing or understanding
• Sudden weakness
• Numbness or loss of feeling
• Loss of consciousness or coma

A stroke is caused by a blood clot or another type of blockage in a blood vessel to the brain. Oxygen in the blood is cut off to the brain supplied by that blood vessel is damaged and may die. Sometimes, when the blood supply is stopped for just a few minutes, the brain tissue is injured but recovers within a few hours or few days. Other times, when the blood supply is stopped for a longer period, the injury is more severe, and the brain tissue doesn’t recover.

Blockage of the blood supply to the brain can be caused by a blood clot or by a buildup of cholesterol on the walk of blood vessel (atherosclerosis). These blockage can cut off oxygen to the brain and cause a stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA). A TIA is a ministroke that occurs when the oxygen of the part of the brain is cut off for a short time. The blockage is usually due to a blood clot or a piece of cholesterol that breaks off from the wall of an artery and becomes stuck in a blood vessel in the brain. Air and fat particles in the bloodstream can also block an artery to the brain.

Symptoms of a blockage can include loss of consciousness, vision, hearing or ability to speak, or numbness, weakness, paralysis or dizziness. If the symptoms pass within minutes to hours, the attack was probably due to a TIA and the damage won’t be permanent. But TIAs are often a warning that a stroke may occur in the future.

Lack of oxygen to the brain causes a part o the brain to die. Anyone who has a sudden and severe headache, stiff neck, drowsiness, fainting, or speaking, seeing or hearing should be seen right away by a doctor. This is an emergency.

Testing

CT scans and MRI scans of the head can show the location and sometimes the extent of the damage to the brain, but they can’t show if the brain will recover.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause of the stroke, its severity and the age and health of the person.
Rapid treatment with medicines can dissolve a clot and keep the damage to a minimum. Blood-thinning medicine may prevent repeat episodes in the future.
Many people who have a stroke are left with problems ranging from permanent weakness or numbness to loss of speech, sight, hearing, or ability to move one or both arms or legs. A few people won’t come out of coma. But most strokes are treatable at a point. Physical therapy and other measures can help people who have had a stroke regain the function that they lost. Some people recover completely.

Prevention

High blood pressure is a common cause of strokes and one that can be controlled. High blood sugar in people who have diabetes and high blood cholesterol are risk factors for clots. Early detection and treatment of high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels helps prevent strokes. Unfortunately, many people don’t know their blood pressure, cholesterol or sugar levels are high.

Smoking contributes to atherosclerosis, which damages the arteries and may lead to clots and stroke. So, not starting to smoke or quitting smoke can help prevent strokes.

Atherosclerosis of the carotid artery of the neck, which carries blood to the brain, is a major cause of stroke. Carotid artery endarterectomy is a procedure that cleans the plaques, or cholesterol buildup, out of the carotid artery. Carotid artery endarterectomy can be helpful in reducing the risk of  stroke in people who have transient ischemic attacks.


NB: Preventing Strokes

• Keep your blood pressure under control
• Keep your blood sugar level under control if you have diabetes.
• Keep your blood cholesterol level within a healthy range
• Quit smoking or don’t start.