Stroke is one of the leading causes of death that occurs due to interrupted or severely reduced blood supply to a part of the brain. This interruption in blood supply can be either due to a blocked or ruptured blood vessel within the brain that deprives oxygen and nutrients supply to the brain tissue. Eventually, brain cells begin to die, arising a medical emergency that needs treatment as quickly as possible to prevent potential complications.
There are three main kinds of stroke:
- Ischemic strokes
- Hemorrhagic strokes
- Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), also referred to as mini-strokes
Causes of Stroke
- Ischemic stroke occurs due to a blocked or narrowed artery
- Hemorrhagic stroke occurs due to leaking or bursting of a blood vessel
- Transient ischemic attack or TIA occurs due to temporary disruption of blood flow to their brain
Risk factors for Stroke
Any of the following factors can increase the risk of a stroke:
- Age above 55
- Family history
- Being male
- Obesity
- Physical inactivity
- Heavy drinking
- Excessive use of drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamines
- Hypertension
- Active or passive cigarette smoking
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Cardiovascular disease, including heart failure, heart defects, heart infection or abnormal heart rhythm
Symptoms of Stroke
- Trouble with speaking and understanding
- Confusion
- Paralysis, weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg
- Trouble with seeing in one or both eyes
- Blurred, double or blackened vision
- Sudden, severe headache
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Altered consciousness
- Trouble with walking
- Loss of balance or coordination
When to seek immediate medical attention?
“FAST” is the signal to seek immediate medical attention and should be noticed with the following:
- Face: Drooping face when a person is asked to smile
- Arms: Drifting of one arm on raising both arms
- Speech: Slurred or strange speech on repeating a simple phrase
- Time: Don’t waste any time and seek immediate medical attention.
Diagnosis of Stroke
For appropriate treatment, appropriate diagnosis plays the most crucial role. Several tests are done to determine the risk of stroke, including:
- Physical examination
- Blood tests
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Carotid ultrasound
- Cerebral angiogram
- Echocardiogram
Treatment of Stroke:
Treatment is different for different types of strokes and may include medications and surgical intervention along with recovery and rehabilitation.
