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Stroke
Overview:
A stroke, or cerebrovascular accident (CVA), occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is disrupted, causing brain cells to die. When blood flow to the brain is impaired, oxygen and glucose cannot be delivered to the brain. Blood flow can be compromised by a variety of mechanisms.
Signs and Symptoms:
Watch for these stroke symptoms if you think you or someone else is having a stroke: Trouble with walking, Trouble with speaking, Paralysis or numbness on one side of the body, Trouble with seeinga and Headache.
Causes and Organs Affected:
The blockage of an artery in the brain by a clot (thrombosis) is the most common cause of a stroke. The part of the brain that is supplied by the clotted blood vessel is then deprived of blood and oxygen. As a result of the deprived blood and oxygen, the cells of that part of the brain die. Typically, a clot forms in a small blood vessel within the brain that has been previously narrowed due to a variety of risk factors including:
Risk Factor:
Many factors can increase your risk of a stroke. A number of these factors can also increase your chances of having a heart attack. Stroke risk factors include:
* A family history of stroke, heart attack or TIA
* Being age 55 or older
* High blood pressure — a systolic blood pressure of 140 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or higher, or a diastolic pressure of 90 mm Hg or higher
* High cholesterol — a total cholesterol level of 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or 5.2 mmol/L, or higher
* Cigarette smoking
* Diabetes
* Obesity — a body mass index of 30 or higher
* Cardiovascular disease, including heart failure, a heart defect, heart infection, or abnormal heart rhythm
* Previous stroke or TIA
* High levels of homocysteine, an amino acid, in your blood
* Use of birth control pills or other hormone therapy
Treatment:
Getting prompt medical treatment for stroke is important. Treatment itself depends on the type of stroke.
Ischemic stroke
To treat an ischemic stroke, doctors must quickly restore blood flow to your brain.
Other Information:
Knowing your risk factors and adopting a healthy lifestyle are the best steps you can take to prevent a stroke. In general, a healthy lifestyle means that you: Control high blood pressure (hypertension), Lower your cholesterol and saturated fat intake, Don't smoke, Control diabetes, Maintain a healthy weight, Exercise regularly, Manage stress, Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all, and Don't use illicit drugs.