The "Brain Attack" Called a Stroke

Someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds on average. Nearly nine out of ten strokes occur when a blood clot blocks a vessel in the brain (called ischemic stroke). Less commonly, a stroke occurs when a weakened blood vessel in the brain ruptures (hemorrhagic stroke). The bleeding into the brain resulting from a hemorrhagic stroke is difficult to stop, making them more likely to be fatal.

You may have heard the term "mini-stroke", also known as a transient ischemic attack, or TIA. TIA’s are caused by a temporary blockage of blood flow in the brain. When the blood flow resumes, symptoms disappear. TIA’s are a warning that you are in danger of experiencing a full-fledged stroke. Take them seriously and tell your doctor – you may need to take medicine like anti-clotting drugs or high blood pressure medication to reduce your risk.

Stroke symptoms come on suddenly, and include:

1) Changes in vision in one or both eyes

2) Difficulty speaking or understanding speech

3) Severe unexplained headache

4) Numbness or weakness, especially on one side

5) Confusion

6) Dizziness and problems with balance or walking

If you suspect someone may be having a stroke, ask them to:

1) Smile (Does one side of their mouth droop?)

2) Raise their arms above their head (Are they able to raise both arms and to keep them up evenly?)

3) Speak a simple sentence (Are they coherent? Is their speech slurred?

4) Stick their tongue out (Is it straight, or does it slant to one side?)

If you notice possible stroke symptoms, call 911 immediately. Without oxygen, brain cells quickly begin to die, causing permanent damage. The type of damage depends on what part of the brain clot or rupture was in. Common problems after a stroke include difficulty walking, trouble swallowing, vision problems, numbness in the arms or legs, and problems speaking and understanding.

More than half of people who have a stroke regain the ability to take care of themselves, but some are left permanently disabled. Anti-clotting drugs used within the first three hours of their initial stroke symptoms can curb long-term negative effects. Those who get anti-clotting medication soon enough may recover completely.

Hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis, is a common cause of ischemic stroke, as the condition makes it easier for blood clots to form and then lodge in the narrowed arteries, blocking the flow of blood. High blood pressure causes most hemorrhagic strokes.

High blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and being overweight all increase the risk of stroke, as do smoking, heavy alcohol intake, lack of exercise and a poor diet. Men are more likely to have a stroke then women at younger ages, but not at older ages – but women are more likely to die from stroke. African-Americans and Native Americans suffer more strokes than other races.

Up to 80% of strokes are avoidable. Taking the proper medications is vitally important for people who have had a stroke or TIA, or are at risk of one. Doctors often prescribe anti-clotting drugs, also called anti-platelet medication, to keep the blood platelets from sticking together and forming clots. They may also prescribe cholesterol-lowering medications to lower the amount of "bad" LDL cholesterol in their blood and boost "good" HDL levels. High blood pressure medications like beta-blockers, ace inhibitors (ACEs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are also widely prescribed.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/the-brain-attack-called-a-stroke-2859256.html

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