Understanding Stroke: Cause, Diagnosis, and Treatment
A Brain stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel bursts and bleeds inside the brain. The brain's tissues cannot receive blood or oxygen due to the rupture or obstruction. Within minutes, brain tissue and cells suffer damage and start to die in the absence of oxygen.
Strokes primarily come in three forms:
- Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): A blood clot usually reverses on its own.
- Ischemic stroke: An arterial blockage brought on by a plaque buildup or blood clot results in an ischemic stroke. Compared to TIAs, ischemic stroke symptoms and consequences can linger longer or even become irreversible.
- Hemorrhagic Stroke : One of the two main causes of hemorrhagic stroke is a blood artery leak or burst that spills into the brain.
Stroke Symptoms
A Stroke victim's chances of recovery improve the sooner they receive medical attention. Because of this, being aware of the symptoms of a stroke can help you take prompt action. Among the signs of a stroke are:
- An arm, face, or leg that is numb or weak, especially on one side of the body.
- Difficulty understanding or speaking with others.
- Slurred speech.
- Confusion, disorientation, or lack of responsiveness.
- Sudden changes in behavior, particularly heightened agitation.
- Vision problems, including difficulty seeing in one or both eyes, blurry or darkened vision, or double vision.
- Difficulty walking.
- Dizziness.
- Imbalance or coordination problems.
- A sudden and severe headache without a known cause.
- Seizures
- Nauseous or vomiting
If you believe you or someone else is experiencing a stroke, immediately call local emergency services. Early intervention is essential to avoid the following consequences:
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Causes of Brain Stroke
Depending on the kind of stroke, many causes can exist. There are three primary categories for strokes:
- Ischemic stroke
- Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
- Hemorrhagic stroke
These groups can be subdivided into further categories of strokes, such as: embolic stroke
- Thrombotic stroke
- A cerebrovascular accident
- Subarachnoid stroke
Your course of treatment and recuperation will depend on the type of stroke you have.
Ischemic Stroke
An ischemic stroke occurs when blood vessels supplying the brain become constricted or blocked, typically due to blood clots or significantly reduced blood flow. Plaque fragments can also cause blockages. There are two main types:
- Cerebral Embolism : A blood clot forms elsewhere in the body, often in the heart or upper chest and neck arteries, then travels to the brain, causing an embolic stroke.
- Cerebral Thrombosis : A thrombus forms at the site of a fatty plaque within a blood vessel, leading to a thrombotic stroke.
Ischemic strokes account for 87% of all strokes according to the CDC.
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
Also known as a ministroke, a TIA is a brief interruption in blood supply to the brain, with symptoms similar to a full stroke but lasting only minutes to hours. It's typically caused by a blood clot and serves as a warning sign for potential major strokes. One-third of untreated TIA patients may have a major stroke within a year.
Hemorrhagic Stroke
A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a cerebral artery bursts, releasing blood and increasing intracranial pressure and swelling, which damages brain cells.
There are two types:
- Intracerebral Hemorrhagic Stroke : The most common type, where an artery ruptures and blood floods the surrounding brain tissue.
- Subarachnoid Hemorrhagic Stroke : Less common, involving bleeding in the space between the brain and its covering tissues.
Risk factors for stroke
You are more prone to stroke if you have certain risk factors. The following are risk factors for stroke, per the National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteTrusted Source:
Diet
An imbalanced diet may make a stroke more likely. This kind of diet has a lot of:
- Salt
- Saturated fats
- Trans fats
- Cholesterol
Inactivity
Inactivity or lack of exercise can increase the risk of stroke. Regular exercise offers several health benefits. The CDC recommends that adults engage in at least 2.5 hours of aerobic activity per week, which can be achieved through activities like brisk walking a few times a week.
Heavy Alcohol Use
Excessive alcohol use increases the risk of stroke. If you drink, do so in moderation: no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. High alcohol consumption can raise blood pressure and increase triglyceride levels, leading to atherosclerosis, where plaque buildup in the arteries causes blood vessels to constrict.
Use of Tobacco
Because tobacco use can harm the heart and blood vessels, it also increases the risk of stroke. Moreover, nicotine increases blood pressure.
Personal Background
Certain stroke risk factors, like the following, are outside of your control:
- Family: Certain families are predisposed to a higher risk of stroke due to genetic health issues, including high blood pressure.
- Sex: While strokes can happen to men and women alike, the CDC Trusted Source reports that across all age groups, women experience strokes more frequently than men do.
- Age: The chance of having a stroke increases with age.
- Ethnicity and race: Compared to other racial groups, African Americans, Alaska Natives, and American Indians had higher stroke rates.
Health History
Stroke risk is associated with specific medical problems. Among them are:
- A TIA or prior stroke
- Elevated blood pressure.
- Elevated cholesterol
- Obsessively carrying extra weight
- Heart issues such as coronary artery disease and abnormalities in the heart valves
- Enhanced cardiac chambers and erratic heart rhythms
- A sickle cell illness
- Blood coagulation disorders
- Diabetes,
- Patent foramen ovale (PFO)
Speak with your brain doctor to learn more about your individual stroke risk factors.
Complications of Stroke
The consequences following a stroke of Reliable Sources might change. Among these difficulties are seizures.
- Loss of control over the bowel and bladder
- Cognitive decline, including dementia
- Diminished range of motion, mobility, or capacity to regulate specific muscle actions
- Depression
- Emotional or mood swings
- Bed sores
- Alterations in perception or feeling
The following strategies can be used to manage these complications:
- Drugs,
- physical therapy, and
- Psychotherapy
Some complications might even be kept for later.
Stroke Diagnosis
Your physician will assess your stroke risk through:
- Symptom inquiry: Discuss your symptoms and activities.
- Medical history review: Examine your medical background and medications.
- Physical examination: Check for:
- Balance issues
- Coordination problems
- Weakness or numbness in the face, arms, or legs
- Confusion
- Vision problems
Tests to Confirm Stroke
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Stroke Treatment
Recovery from a stroke hinges on prompt medical examination and treatment, with the American Heart Association emphasizing the urgency with the phrase "Time lost is brain lost." The treatment approach varies by stroke type:
TIA and Ischemic Stroke
These are typically caused by blood clots or obstructions in the brain and are treated similarly:
- Clot-busting medications : Thrombolytic drugs, like tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), dissolve clots quickly, reducing brain damage and long-term disability.
- Mechanical thrombectomy : A catheter is used to remove clots from major brain vessels, ideally within six to twenty-four hours post-stroke.
- Stents : Used to widen and support constricted arteries.
- Surgery : In rare cases, surgery may be needed to remove plaque and clots from arteries.
Hemorrhagic Stroke
Caused by brain bleeds or leaks, this type requires different treatments:
- Drugs : Medications are used to form blood clots, lower blood and brain pressure, prevent seizures, and avoid blood vessel constriction.
- Coiling : A tube inserts a coil into the weakened artery section to block blood flow and reduce bleeding.
- Clamping : A clip is placed at the aneurysm's base to prevent further bleeding.
- Surgery : If an aneurysm has burst, surgery may be needed to clip it and stop bleeding. A craniotomy might be performed to relieve brain pressure.
Medicover Hospital in India is highlighted for its excellence in best brain stroke treatment, with a team of top doctors facilitating speedy recovery for patients.
Stroke Medications and Post-Stroke Recovery
Stroke treatment varies based on the type and individual risk factors, aiming to either prevent strokes or manage their aftermath. Common medications include
- Directly Acting Oral Coagulants (DOACs) to prevent clotting,
- Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) to dissolve clots,
- Anticoagulants to reduce clotting
- Antiplatelet drugs like aspirin and clopidogrel to prevent blood clots,
- Statins to lower cholesterol, and blood pressure medications.
Post-stroke recovery, involving speech therapy, cognitive rehabilitation, sensory retraining, and physical therapy, begins in the hospital to maximize the chances of regaining lost skills. Immediate medical attention and lifestyle changes are crucial for reducing stroke risk and improving outcomes.
Preventions to Avoid Having a Stroke
A change in lifestyle is not a cure for strokes. However, many of these adjustments can significantly reduce your chances of having a stroke. These modifications include:
- Give up smoking.
- Restrict your alcohol intake.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Make routine checkups.
By following these steps, you can improve your physical condition and reduce your risk of stroke.
