Stroke: Definition, Causes, Risk Factors, Signs, Complications And Preventions

Stroke: Definition, Causes, Risk Factors, Signs Complications And Preventions.

What is a stroke?

A stroke is referred to as brain attack, it usually happens when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked, which can hurt or kill cells in the brain.

Stroke is a leading cause of death in adults. It’s also a common cause of brain damage and long-term disability.

Each year in the United States, there are more than 795,000 strokes. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the country. And stroke causes more serious long-term disabilities than any other disease. Nearly three-quarters of all strokes occur in people over the age of 65 and the risk of having a stroke more than doubles each decade after the age of 55.

For African Americans, stroke is more common and more deadly - even in young and middle-aged adults - than for any ethnic or other racial group in the United States.

Learning about stroke can help you act in time to save a co-worker, friend, or relative. And making changes in your lifestyle can help you prevent stroke.

New treatments are available that greatly reduce the damage caused by a stroke. But you need to arrive at the hospital within 60 minutes after symptoms start to prevent disability. Knowing stroke symptoms, calling 911 immediately, and getting to a hospital are critical.

A stroke can cause long-term problems like:

Trouble thinking and speaking

Paralysis (not being able to move some parts of the body)

Trouble controlling or expressing emotions.

What is a mini-stroke?

A mini-stroke has the same symptoms as a stroke, but the symptoms do not last as long. A min-stroke is also called a TIA, which stands for transient ischemic attack.

A TIA happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked for a short period of time usually a couple of minutes. If you’ve had a TIA, you are at greater risk for having a larger stroke.

What causes a stroke?

There are two kinds of stroke. The most common kind of stroke, called ischemic stroke, is caused by a blood clot that blocks or plugs a blood vessel in the brain. The other kind of stroke, called hemorrhagic stroke, is caused by a blood vessel that breaks and bleeds into the brain.

Am I at risk for stroke?

The number one risk factor for stroke is high blood pressure. High blood pressure has no signs or symptoms, so it's important to get your blood pressure checked regularly.

Ask your doctor how often you need to get your blood pressure checked. You can also ask whether measuring your blood pressure at home is right for you.

Other risk factors for stroke include:

Smoking

Drinking too much alcohol

Using illegal drugs (like cocaine or heroin)

Diabetes

Physical inactivity and obesity

An irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation)

High cholesterol

You are at higher risk of having a stroke as you get older. You may also be more at risk if someone in your family has had a stroke. Make sure you know your family’s medical history and share it with your doctor.

What are the signs of a stroke?

A stroke usually happens suddenly and with little warning. Signs of a stroke include:

Sudden dizziness, loss of balance, or trouble walking

Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or trouble understanding

Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg especially on one side of the body

Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Having a stroke is a medical emergency. Call 911 right away if you or someone else shows signs of stroke.

Don't wait for the symptoms to improve or worsen. If you believe you are having a stroke - or someone you know is having a stroke - call 911 immediately. Making the decision to call for medical help can make the difference in avoiding a lifelong disability.

Know Stroke Prevention

Conditions that can cause stroke are very common among African Americans. The best treatment for stroke is prevention. You can reduce your risk of having a stroke by taking action to improve your health.

Your chances of surviving and recovering from a stroke are better if you get emergency treatment right away.

What are the complications of stroke?

The main complication of stroke is brain and this damage in the brain can affect the entire body resulting in mild to severe disabilities. These include paralysis, problems with thinking, problems with speaking, and emotional problems.

What disabilities can result from a stroke?

What should you do?

Because stroke injures the brain, you may not realize that you are having a stroke. The people around you might not know it either. Your family, friends, or neighbors may think you are confused. You may not be able to call 911 on your own. That's why everyone should know the signs of stroke - and know how to act fast.

How can I reduce the risk of stroke?

Take the following steps to reduce your risk of developing a stroke:

Get your blood pressure checked.

High blood pressure is the most important risk factor for stroke, so it's important to get your blood pressure checked regularly starting at age 18.

If your blood pressure is high, talk with your doctor or nurse about how to lower it  and ask if measuring your blood pressure at home is right for you.

Get your cholesterol checked.

Having high cholesterol can increase your risk of stroke. It’s important to get your cholesterol checked at least every 4 to 6 years. Some people will need to get it checked more or less often.

If your cholesterol is high, talk with your doctor about steps you can take to lower it

Take Action: Healthy Habits

Quit cigarettes smoking.

Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do to prevent stroke. After you quit smoking, your risk of stroke and heart disease start to go down.

Get active.

Getting active can help lower your risk of stroke. Aim for 2 hours and 30 minutes every week of moderate aerobic activity, like walking fast or biking.

Look at your schedule for the week. Try finding a few 30-minute time periods you can use for physical activity. Put them in your calendar. 

Get enough sleep.

Sleep is important for staying healthy. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes people’s breathing to pause during sleep. This sleep disorder increases the risk of stroke in middle-aged men and in women who have gone through menopause.

Talk with your doctor if you feel like you have trouble getting enough sleep.

Eat healthy.

Eating healthy can help keep your blood pressure and cholesterol under control. Be sure to cut down on foods high in sodium (salt) and saturated fat. Get tips on how to eat less sodium.

Alcohol drinking

Drinking too much alcohol can increase your risk of high blood pressure, which is a major cause of stroke. If you choose to drink alcohol, drink only in moderation. This means:

No more than 1 drink a day for women

No more than 2 drinks a day for men

Take steps to prevent type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes can increase your risk of stroke. Eating healthy and staying active can lower your risk of diabetes.

If you have diabetes, talk with your doctor about ways to keep your blood sugar (glucose) in the normal range.

Ask your doctor about taking aspirin every day.

Aspirin can lower your risk of heart attack or stroke by preventing blood clots. Clots are clumps of thickened blood that can block blood flow.

Taking aspirin regularly is not recommended for everyone. Talk with your doctor to find out if taking aspirin is the right choice for you.

Know your family’s health history.

Your family’s health history can give your doctor or nurse important information about your risk for stroke. Use this family health history toolThis link is external to health.gov. to keep track of your family’s health. Share this information with your doctor or nurse.

How to prevent stroke?

While family history of stroke plays a role in your risk, there are many risk factors you can control.

If you have high blood pressure, work with your doctor to get it under control. Many people do not realize they have high blood pressure, which usually produces no symptoms but is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Managing your high blood pressure is the most important thing you can do to avoid stroke.

If you smoke, quit.

If you have diabetes, learn how to manage it. As with high blood pressure, diabetes usually causes no symptoms but it increases the chance of stroke.

If you are overweight, start maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly.

Every minute counts. 

The longer blood flow is cut off to the brain, the greater the damage. The most common kind of stroke, ischemic stroke, can be treated with a drug that dissolves clots blocking the blood flow. The window of opportunity to start treating stroke patients is three hours. But a person needs to be at the hospital within 60 minutes of having a stroke to be evaluated and receive treatment.

Sources:

www.health.gov