Stroke is an attack that occur when normal flow of blood to the brain is
blocked, or when the vessels (arteries) carrying blood to the brain
burst. The brain requires oxygen and nutrient to live. If the brain
stops receiving oxygen and nutrient, the brain cells (neurons) begin to
die gradually. If nothing is done about it as soon as possible then it
could lead to a permanent brain damage, disability or death. The area
affected on the brain and the extent of damage will determine the impact
on the victim's body function. For example, if the area of the brain
responsible for movement is greatly damaged, the victim may lose the
ability to move. The victim may not be able to move his arms or legs.
This is one among other reasons stroke is referred to as a medical
emergency.
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Nearly 800,000 people in United States experience a
stroke each year. That’s one stroke every 40 seconds. For every person
that dies from stroke, more than 5 times that many will survive, and for
them the physical damage it causes can be enormous.
Source: stroke.org
Source: stroke.org
There are three main types of stroke. They are;
- Ischemic stroke
- Hemorrhagic stroke
- Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke. It is caused by interuption of blood flow to the brain. Blood clots is responsible, they block flow of blood to the brain cells. Fatty deposits and cholesterol are what can make the blood vessels to clot.
Hemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding from rupture of blood vessels to the brain. The blood vessel burst and bleeds into the brain.
Transient ischemic stroke is also known as mini stroke. This type of stroke happen for only a short time. It does not last for a longtime. Clots prevent blood flow to the brain for a little time. Once flow of blood resume symptoms of stroke disappears.
One may begin to wonder what actually causes the leakage or bursting of the blood vessels. Several things can be responsible. Brain injury, weakness or thinness in the blood vessel wall known as aneurysms can allow the arteries to burst thereby leading to a stroke. People with certain medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol alongside smoking, taking drugs, poor diet and nutrition, and living a sedentary lifestyle can also cause a stroke. Obesity and family history can increase your risk of stroke.
Signs Of Stroke
There is simple and easy way to recognize the signs of stroke. The acronym F.A.S.T is used to know the signs of a stroke.
F - Face dropping
A - Arm weakness
S - Speech difficulty
T - Time to call 911 or any other medical emergency numbers.
To be sure of these signs, ask the person to smile, to raise both arms and to speak. If one side of the person's face droop, one arm drift downward and the speech slurr, then it's a confirmation of a stroke. Starting treatment as early as enough can reduce the chances of disability and death.
There are other signs of stroke worth knowing. These includes:
- Loss of balance or coordination
- Dizziness
- Blurr vision either in one or both eyes
- Headache
- Difficulty in swallowing
Treatment for stroke depends on the type of stroke affecting the victim which is best diagnosed by a neurologist. Now that you have come to know the signs of a stroke, You should always act F.A.S.T when you notice anyone having these signs.
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Hi Mazino,
ReplyDeleteWell informed piece you got up there, I have always wondered what could be the causes of stroke cos my friends dad had stroke sometimes last year though he later recovered but he later fell into coma 2 weeks ago and finally passed on last week. What I really want to know is if stroke is fully curable cos it is quite a rampant ailment
Wow, i will sure share this info to my friends. Thanks Mazino
ReplyDeleteGreat tips. I just recently received several emails from friends that is being passed around on how to recognized if someone is having a stroke. Getting to the hospital immediately is key
ReplyDeleteI'm shocked at the numbers that you cite here on the prevalence of strokes. Appreciate the information on how to recognize the signs.
ReplyDeleteThis number of strokes is big. M father had stoke in 2007 and thankfully we were FAST and he is doing well Alhamdulilah still.
ReplyDeleteVery informative post, it will help many to understand the symptoms of stoke and help someone FAST.
I had recently been touched by others who have had a stroke. Worse thing is some “professionals” need to get their act together. A friend’s mother had a stroke, we were next to a stroke medical center, so we took her there. They did tests and tests, and concluded where the stroke was, but do not do operations there. They arranged for an ambulance, which took her to a hospital. The doctor there said they could not operate, which would of lessened the damage of the stoke, because it was past the time frame. When we arrived at the initial medical center, to when we arrived at that hospital, was 5 hours. Professional medieval people should know better.
ReplyDelete