Every 45 seconds, someone in America has a stroke. Every 3 minutes, someone dies of one. It is the number one cause of disability and the third leading cause of death in the nation. You can reduce your chances of having a stroke by knowing your risk factors, reducing your risk factors, knowing the warning signs of stroke and knowing what to do if you suspect you or someone else is having a stroke.
Cause
Types
Diagnosis
Treatment
Other Resources
Causes of Stroke
A stroke is a brain attack. It is a form of cardiovascular disease that affects the arteries or veins and stops the flow of blood bringing oxygen and nutrients to the brain. A stroke occurs when blood vessels burst or become clogged, resulting in part of the brain not receiving the flow of blood it needs and therefore starts to die.
Types of Strokes
There are three types of strokes: Ischemic, Hemmoragic and Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA).
Ischemic
Ischemic strokes are the most common type of stroke, accounting for approximately 83 percent of all strokes. (American Stroke Assoc.) These types of strokes occur when clots block an artery. The underlying condition for this type of obstruction is the development of fatty deposits lining the vessel walls called atherosclerosis. These fatty deposits can cause two types of obstruction: Cerebral thrombosis refers to a thrombus (blood clot) that develops at the clogged part of the vessel or Cerebral embolism which refers generally to a blood clot that forms at another location in the circulatory system, usually in the heart and large arteries of the upper chest and neck. A portion of the blood clot breaks loose, enters the bloodstream and travels through the brain's blood vessels until it reaches vessels too small to let it pass. A second important cause of embolism is an irregular heartbeat, known as atrial fibrillation. It creates conditions where clots can form in the heart, dislodge and travel to the brain.
Hemmoragic
Hemorrhagic stroke is the least common but can be fatal . Hemmoragic strokes happen when a weakened vessel in the brain ruptures and bleeds into the surrounding brain tissue. The two types of hemorrhagic strokes are intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a weakened blood vessel ruptures. Two types of weakened blood vessels usually cause hemorrhagic stroke: aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).
An aneurysm is a ballooning of a weakened region of a blood vessel. If left untreated, the aneurysm continues to weaken until it ruptures and bleeds into the brain. (American Stroke Assoc)
Transient ischemic attacks
Also called TIAs, transient ischemic attacks are minor or warning strokes. In a TIA, conditions indicative of an ischemic stroke are present and the typical stroke warning signs develop. However, the obstruction (blood clot) occurs for a short time and tends to resolve itself through normal mechanisms.
Even though the symptoms disappear after a short time, TIAs are strong indicators of a possible major stroke. Steps should be taken immediately to prevent a stroke.
In other cases, a clot that has formed elsewhere in the body may travel through the bloodstream and lodge in a brain artery. There, it can block blood flow to the brain and cause an embolic stroke.
Together thrombotic and embolic strokes make up about 75%. Since interrupted blood supply can kill brain tissue, these types of strokes frequently cause temporary or permanent disability and may even be fatal.
There are many risk factors for stroke. However, controlling them through a combination of lifestyle changes and medical management can significantly reduce your chances of having a stroke. Some of the most important treatable risk factors for stroke are:
- Smoking
- High Blood Pressure
- Diabetes
- Heart Disease
- History of Stroke
- Age: Elderly people have a much greater risk for stroke than younger people
- Gender: The incidence of stroke is about 30% higher for men than women
- Heredity: The risk for stroke is greater in people with a family history of stroke
- Race: African Americans are three to four times more likely to die from a stroke than Caucasian Americans
Diagnosis of Stroke
There are several signs your body will use to indicate your brain is not receiving enough oxygen. Know these warning signs of stroke and teach them to others. Every second counts:
- Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm, or leg; dimness or loss of vision, particularly in one eye
- Sudden difficulty in speaking; severe headache; and unexplained dizziness or sudden falls
- Double vision
- Drowsiness
- Nausea or vomiting
Call 9-1-1 immediately if you experience symptoms!
Time lost is brain lost!
Physicians will make a diagnosis by reviewing the patients:
- Medical history
- Physical and neurological examination
- Laboratory (blood) tests
- CT scan of the patient
- Results of other diagnostic tests that might be needed
Treatment of Stroke
Ischemic stroke is treated by removing obstruction and restoring blood flow to the brain.
In Hemorrhagic stroke, doctors introduce an obstruction to prevent rupture and bleeding of aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations.
American Stroke Association (a division of American Heart Association)
The American Stroke Association is the division of the American Heart Association that's solely focused on reducing disability and death from stroke through research, education, fundraising and advocacy.
American Academy of Neurology (AAN)
This Web site includes comprehensive, user-friendly Internet resource for consumers and professionals seeking information about neurological disorders. Provides detailed consumer information about stroke, its symptoms and treatment, and links to other online services. Also provides intensive information for health care professionals.
American Heart Association (AHA) National Center
The official web site of the American Heart Association offers an A to Z Guide to Stroke in an easy-to-use reference format. Links to warning signs, risk factors, family health, as well as statistical data and current research projects are offered. A window into the American Stroke can be found on the home page of this site.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
The nation's leading supporter of biomedical research on disorders of the brain and nervous system. Created by the U.S. Congress in 1950, NINDS is one of the more than two dozen research institutes and centers that comprise the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Q&A formatted information on stroke and links to NINDS stroke related publications.
National Stroke Association
National Stroke Association is reaching new heights in stroke. As the preeminent organization committed to fighting stroke in this country, NSA is providing unprecedented national expertise and leadership for those at risk, suffering or recovering from this devastating condition. This web site includes detailed information on stroke, stroke-related web sites and survivor and caregiver resources.
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