What is stroke ?
Stroke is a sudden loss of brain function where brain tissue is damaged by a loss of blood and oxygen to the brain. A stroke can also be called a "brain attack"
Stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain becomes damaged or blocked. preventing blood from reaching a part of the brain tissue. Brain tissue needs a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients to keep nerve cells and other parts of tissue alive and functioning. The brain can not store oxygen, so it relies on a network of blood vessels to provide it with blood that is rich in oxygen.
Types Of Stroke.
Strokes are defided into 2 categories :
1. Ischemic Stroke.This type of stroke is the most common and occurs when the brain artery is blocked. It can be caused by :
- Thrombosis Narrowing of the brain artery due to a blood clot, is caused by ateroschlerosis which cuts off the blood supply to the brain.
- Embolism Blockage of a brain artery due to a blood clot that forms in another part of the body
such as the neck or lining of the heart and travels to the brain.
2. Haemorrhagic StrokeThis type of stroke occurs if the artery develops a hole in it. The bleeding
can be caused by :
- Hypertension
- Brain Artery Disorder : Aneurysm and Arterio Venous Malformation
- Trauma
What are the symptoms of a stroke?
Symptoms of stroke vary and depend on the type and location of the stroke :
- Weakness on one side of the body.
- Sudden blurred vision or decreased vision in one or both eyes.
- Droping of one side of the mouth.
- Sudden inability to speak or unable to understand the conversation.
- Inability to name things or person.
- Difficulty in swallowing.
- Loss of consciousness
- Sudden dizziness, loss of balance or loss coordination.
- Sudden unexplainable and intense headache.
- Speech of difficulty.
Immediate treatment of a stroke victim.
Stroke is considered an emergency case. And needs immediate treatment from specialist medical (Neuroscience) Profesional. Stroke warning symptoms must not be ignored. During a stroke, brain damage increases for every minute that brain cells are deprived of oxygen. Also, the chances for survival and recovery are much better when the right treatment begins within the first few hours of noticing stroke symptom.
What can be done to help someone who is having a Stroke?
1. Lay the person down in a safe and comfortable position.
2. Lift the chin up to open the airway.
3. Check for breathing and pulse.
4. If the person is unconscious, roll him/ her one side.
5. Loosen constrictive clothing.
6. Do not move the person if you suspect a head, neck or back injury.
7. Contact the nearest hospital.
Risk Factors.
- High cholesterol (hipercholesterolemia)
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Heart disease
- History of a stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
- Smoking
- Heavy alcohol intake
- Being overweight
How do I prevent a Stroke?
1. Healthy life style : stop smoking, reduce/ stop alcohol consumption, and ensure low salt and low
fat diet, exercise regularly.
2. Monitoring blood pressure through regular check-ups.
3. Regular medical check-ups for blood glucose, cholesterol levels and other risk factors.
4. Radiology examinations can be undertaken to detect the presence of artery disorders :
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- CT Scan/ Multi Slice CT Scan
- Doppler
5. Electrocardiography (ECG)
References :
- Stroke syndrome, 2nd edition, Julien Bogoussalaavsky, Louis R. Caplan Cambridge University Press.
- Cellebral stroke syndrome P. Amerenco; 43 Extended infarcts i. Published in 2001.
- Stroke : Patophysiology, Diagnosis and Management, 2004, Churchill Livingstone.
- Handbook of Neurocritical Care (Current Clinical Neurogoly), 2004-5
- Neurolosurgical Differential Diagnosis, 2dn edition, John Patten.
Stroke is a sudden loss of brain function where brain tissue is damaged by a loss of blood and oxygen to the brain. A stroke can also be called a "brain attack"
Stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain becomes damaged or blocked. preventing blood from reaching a part of the brain tissue. Brain tissue needs a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients to keep nerve cells and other parts of tissue alive and functioning. The brain can not store oxygen, so it relies on a network of blood vessels to provide it with blood that is rich in oxygen.
Types Of Stroke.
Strokes are defided into 2 categories :
1. Ischemic Stroke.This type of stroke is the most common and occurs when the brain artery is blocked. It can be caused by :
- Thrombosis Narrowing of the brain artery due to a blood clot, is caused by ateroschlerosis which cuts off the blood supply to the brain.
- Embolism Blockage of a brain artery due to a blood clot that forms in another part of the body
such as the neck or lining of the heart and travels to the brain.
2. Haemorrhagic StrokeThis type of stroke occurs if the artery develops a hole in it. The bleeding
can be caused by :
- Hypertension
- Brain Artery Disorder : Aneurysm and Arterio Venous Malformation
- Trauma
What are the symptoms of a stroke?
Symptoms of stroke vary and depend on the type and location of the stroke :
- Weakness on one side of the body.
- Sudden blurred vision or decreased vision in one or both eyes.
- Droping of one side of the mouth.
- Sudden inability to speak or unable to understand the conversation.
- Inability to name things or person.
- Difficulty in swallowing.
- Loss of consciousness
- Sudden dizziness, loss of balance or loss coordination.
- Sudden unexplainable and intense headache.
- Speech of difficulty.
Immediate treatment of a stroke victim.
Stroke is considered an emergency case. And needs immediate treatment from specialist medical (Neuroscience) Profesional. Stroke warning symptoms must not be ignored. During a stroke, brain damage increases for every minute that brain cells are deprived of oxygen. Also, the chances for survival and recovery are much better when the right treatment begins within the first few hours of noticing stroke symptom.
What can be done to help someone who is having a Stroke?
1. Lay the person down in a safe and comfortable position.
2. Lift the chin up to open the airway.
3. Check for breathing and pulse.
4. If the person is unconscious, roll him/ her one side.
5. Loosen constrictive clothing.
6. Do not move the person if you suspect a head, neck or back injury.
7. Contact the nearest hospital.
Risk Factors.
- High cholesterol (hipercholesterolemia)
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Heart disease
- History of a stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
- Smoking
- Heavy alcohol intake
- Being overweight
How do I prevent a Stroke?
1. Healthy life style : stop smoking, reduce/ stop alcohol consumption, and ensure low salt and low
fat diet, exercise regularly.
2. Monitoring blood pressure through regular check-ups.
3. Regular medical check-ups for blood glucose, cholesterol levels and other risk factors.
4. Radiology examinations can be undertaken to detect the presence of artery disorders :
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- CT Scan/ Multi Slice CT Scan
- Doppler
5. Electrocardiography (ECG)
References :
- Stroke syndrome, 2nd edition, Julien Bogoussalaavsky, Louis R. Caplan Cambridge University Press.
- Cellebral stroke syndrome P. Amerenco; 43 Extended infarcts i. Published in 2001.
- Stroke : Patophysiology, Diagnosis and Management, 2004, Churchill Livingstone.
- Handbook of Neurocritical Care (Current Clinical Neurogoly), 2004-5
- Neurolosurgical Differential Diagnosis, 2dn edition, John Patten.
