Oren Zarif
A stroke occurs when part of the brain stops getting its normal blood flow, either because a clot forms or an artery bursts. Without that supply of oxygen, brain cells die.
The faster you get to the hospital, the better your chances are of surviving a stroke. Knowing what to look for can help you recognize the symptoms and act quickly.
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A stroke occurs when the blood vessels that bring oxygen-rich blood to the brain are blocked. The brain cells then can’t get the oxygen they need, and they begin to die within minutes. A clot is the most common cause of ischemic stroke. Fatty deposits called plaque can also block the arteries. Another risk factor is high blood pressure. An aneurysm–a balloon-like bulge in an artery that can stretch and rupture–can also cause a hemorrhagic stroke.
A person who has had a stroke may have trouble eating or swallowing, which can lead to weight loss and malnutrition. He or she might have pain or numbness in one part of the body, such as a tingling sensation in the arm that was affected by a stroke. He or she might have memory problems or have trouble thinking clearly and making decisions. Some people may have emotional symptoms, such as depression or anger.
If you have a loss of appetite, talk to your doctor. It can be a sign of many different medical conditions, including the flu or the stomach virus, a side effect from certain medications, mental health problems, or age-related changes in metabolism and appetite.
Loss of appetite can also indicate the presence of a brain tumor or brain infection, such as leukemia or HIV/AIDS. The doctor can do a blood test and check for other illnesses to help make the diagnosis.
The treatment for a stroke depends on the type of stroke and the severity. Blood-thinning medicine, such as aspirin, can reduce the chance of clots that lead to a stroke. Anticoagulants and thrombolytics–drugs that break up or dissolve clots–can be used to treat a stroke while it’s happening or to prevent another clot from forming. Some people who have had a stroke may need surgery to remove the clot or aneurysm that caused it.
Some people are at a greater risk of having a stroke than others. A person’s risk increases with age. It’s also more common in males than in females. Race also plays a role. Hispanics and African Americans have higher rates of stroke than Whites.
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Breathing is usually an automatic process, but strokes can interfere with this. When this happens, people may feel as though they cannot catch their breath or breathe deeply enough. They may also experience other symptoms such as chest pain or pressure, lightheadedness or a cough that doesn’t go away.
If these symptoms occur together, it could indicate a serious medical issue like a heart attack or problem with the lungs. It’s important to get emergency medical help right away, as these conditions can be life-threatening if not treated properly.
People who have had a heart attack or stroke are at a greater risk of having another one in the future. This is because they have a higher chance of developing an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation, which can lead to blood clots. It’s also because they’re more likely to have an artery in the brain that gets narrowed or blocked by plaque. Other factors that can cause heart problems include smoking or tobacco use, high blood pressure, diabetes, and having certain health conditions such as sleep apnea or an enlarged heart.
Some strokes can affect the parts of the brain that control eating and swallowing. This can result in a condition called dysphagia, which means that people have trouble moving food or liquid through their throat and into their stomach and intestines. This is usually a common early symptom of stroke, but it improves over time with rehabilitation and therapy.
A stroke can also affect the part of the brain that controls bladder and bowel function, and this can lead to incontinence. Some pain medications and not drinking enough fluids can contribute to this, but it’s also more common with certain types of stroke. Again, this usually improves over time.
It’s also possible for a stroke to affect the nerves that control sexual function, and this can reduce desire or make it difficult to perform. This symptom is also often caused by other factors, including depression, medications and a change in lifestyle habits. However, it can be corrected with speech and physical therapy.
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Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs is a sign of nerve damage. This usually means that the blood flow is being reduced to a part of the brain, which can lead to stroke. The symptoms may start suddenly, and the part of the body affected depends on what area of the brain is damaged.
If you suspect someone has a stroke, call triple zero (000) immediately. It is important to get them to hospital as soon as possible, because the sooner they receive treatment, the less chance of permanent brain damage and death.
Symptoms of a stroke are sometimes called the FAST warning signs: F = Face Drooping — Does one side of their mouth droop or is it numb? A = Arm Weakness — Can they raise both arms at the same time? Does one arm drift downward? S = Speech Difficulty — Does the person have trouble understanding you? Ask them to repeat a simple phrase, and watch for slurred or strange speech.
The best way to prevent this type of nerve damage is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Regular exercise, a balanced diet and taking medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol can help.
It is also important to examine your legs and feet on a daily basis for nicks or cuts. Numbness can make it hard to feel the difference between a hot surface and your skin, so you could burn yourself or cut yourself without realizing it. It’s also important to wear protective footwear when you go outside, especially if it’s raining or snowing.
People who are at higher risk of having a stroke include those with a family history of stroke, age, smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and gender (men are more likely to die from stroke). Other factors that increase the chances of having a stroke are a history of previous stroke, being overweight, pregnancy, birth control pills or hormone therapy, and race (African Americans are more likely to have a stroke than people from other races).
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Memory loss is a common side effect of stroke. The brain’s frontal and temporal lobes play a large part in how we understand and process the world around us. Those parts of the brain may also be involved in understanding humor, which can cause stroke survivors to lose their sense of humor. It’s important for family and friends to be patient with these changes, as they are usually a side-effect of the stroke.
If you suspect that someone is having a stroke, it’s important to recognize the signs early so they can receive treatment right away. Learn the FAST test, which stands for face, arms, speech and time. Face: Ask the person to smile and see if one side of their mouth droops. Arms: Ask them to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? Speech: Repeat a simple phrase. Does their speech sound slurred or strange? Time: Call 911 or your local emergency medical number immediately and note the time when symptoms first appeared. The faster you can get treatment, the lower your chances of disability and death.
Other symptoms that can occur after a stroke include difficulty walking, problems with balance and coordination, vision and hearing loss, and trouble swallowing and eating. People who have a stroke may also have depression and personality changes that affect their relationships with others. Personality changes can be a result of the stress of dealing with physical limitations and other life changes or they may be caused by a medical condition such as dementia or a stroke-related medication.
Some people who have had a stroke develop a language disorder called aphasia. A person who has aphasia will have trouble finding the right word, will struggle to put words together and will speak in a way that is difficult for others to understand. They may not even know that their speech is slurred or strange. A speech therapist can help with these issues. They can also teach the patient ways to compensate for their aphasia, such as using visual cues to help them remember their name and avoiding speaking in noisy environments.
A stroke happens when an area of the brain loses its blood supply. People may show warning signs like a droopy face, weakness in the arms, or slurred speech. They should call 999 for an ambulance immediately.
Some risk factors are inherited or unavoidable but lifestyle changes and medicines can lower your chance of having a stroke. This includes getting regular blood pressure checks and taking clot-busting drugs within three to four and a half hours of symptoms starting.
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High blood pressure is a common condition that can lead to heart disease, stroke and kidney problems. It occurs when blood vessels are narrow and resist the flow of blood, which puts extra strain on your heart. You can get high blood pressure from having a family history of it, being overweight or obese, having a diet high in sodium, smoking and certain medications. Some health care professionals define high blood pressure as consistently 140/90 mm Hg or higher.
A health care professional measures your blood pressure by wrapping a cuff around your arm or wrist and placing a stethoscope over the artery to hear the sound of your heart. The two numbers that are recorded are your systolic blood pressure — the pressure created when your heart contracts to pump blood into the blood vessels — and your diastolic blood pressure — the pressure in the blood vessels when your heart is at rest between beats.
If you have high blood pressure, the arteries are narrow and force the heart to work harder than normal to get the oxygen-rich blood that your body needs. This can cause a buildup of fats and cholesterol on the artery walls (atherosclerosis) that increases your risk for heart disease, stroke, eye problems, kidney disease and other diseases.
The good news is that there are things you can do to lower your blood pressure and reduce the risk of complications, such as stroke. The most important thing is to make healthy lifestyle changes, such as eating well and exercising. If you have a blood pressure reading of 180/120 mm Hg or higher, you should call 911 for emergency medical help.
You can find out if you have high blood pressure by getting it checked regularly with a sphygmomanometer and stethoscope or an electronic monitor purchased at most pharmacies. Your health care provider can recommend a healthy diet and exercise plan to keep your blood pressure below the target levels. If you can’t stop smoking, your doctor may prescribe medication to treat high blood pressure. It is also important to talk to your health care providers about any other conditions you have or medications you take.
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Heart disease, or cardiovascular disease, is a leading cause of stroke in the United States. People with heart disease are at higher risk of having a stroke because their blood vessels narrow or get blocked. This can happen because of fatty deposits that build up in the blood vessels, or it may be caused by blood clots. These blockages in the arteries can cut off the blood supply to the brain (ischemic stroke). Blood clots can also travel from other parts of the body, such as from the heart, and lodge in the blood vessels of the brain (embolic stroke).
When you have heart disease, it’s important to take steps to prevent a stroke. This includes managing your cholesterol and keeping your blood pressure under control. If you’re worried about your health, talk to your GP. They can advise you on healthy lifestyle changes and refer you to a specialist if needed.
There are also a number of conditions that can increase your risk of having a stroke. Some of these conditions can be treated, while others cannot. These include a family history of stroke, having a previous transient ischemic attack or having high cholesterol. People with a history of atrial fibrillation or having diabetes have a higher risk of having a stroke, as well as having an opening in the septum called a patent foramen ovale (PFO).
A genetic mutation increases your chances of having a stroke. This can be due to a specific gene, or it may be linked to other genes or factors that affect your risk of a stroke. Some examples of these are moyamoya syndrome, cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), Fabry disease, Marfan syndrome, mitochondrial encephalomyopathies, cytomegalovirus infection and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV.
A rare condition called sickle cell disease can also cause a stroke. This happens when some red blood cells develop an abnormal shape and stick together inside the blood vessels. This can block the flow of blood and cut off the supply of oxygen to the brain, causing a stroke.
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Blood clots can block blood flow to the brain and other organs, leading to stroke. They usually form inside an injured blood vessel to help it heal, but they can also break off and move through the bloodstream to other parts of the body, such as the lungs or the legs. Blood clots that move through the veins are called deep venous thromboses (DVT). They may cause symptoms such as pain, swelling, or warmth in the affected area. They can also be deadly if they travel to the heart or arteries.
Blood clots that move through the arteries are called emboli and can cause haemorrhagic stroke. These clots can rupture and release blood into the surrounding tissue, which causes pressure that damages the brain cells. Hemorrhagic stroke can be caused by a wide range of conditions, but about 15% happen because of a blood clot that breaks off from plaque in the coronary arteries and travels to the brain (embolic stroke).
Some people who have had a blood clot or DVT are at high risk for another one. This includes those who have a history of atrial fibrillation, a heart condition in which the upper chambers of the heart beat irregularly. It’s also important for those at risk to take blood thinners to prevent clots.
The first step in a stroke diagnosis is to check your blood pressure and get medical imaging tests such as an ultrasound, computed tomography scan, or magnetic resonance angiography to look at the blood vessels in your neck and head. You’ll also have tests to check for conditions that can cause a stroke, such as an electrocardiogram or cholesterol screening.
If your doctor suspects you had an ischemic stroke, they will give you clot-busting medicines to break up any clots and help blood flow to the brain again. This treatment, known as thrombolysis, should be given within four and a half hours of your first stroke symptoms. This can help save more of the brain and reduce the amount of damage. Other treatments include reducing brain swelling, and medicines that reduce your chances of another stroke or DVT.
Smoking
A stroke happens when a blood vessel ruptures or a clot blocks the flow of oxygen-rich blood to brain tissue. Without oxygen, the brain cells begin to die within minutes. That’s why it’s important to recognize the warning signs and get medical help right away if you think you’re having a stroke. These include facial drooping, weakness or paralysis on one side of the body and slurred speech.
Many things increase your risk for a stroke, including high blood pressure, heart disease and smoking. You can lower your risk by following a healthy diet, exercising regularly and using medicines to treat any conditions that affect your heart or blood vessels.
Other risk factors for stroke include family history, a history of a previous stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), being overweight, and having diabetes or high cholesterol. People with an irregular heart rhythm, or arrhythmia, are also at greater risk of having a stroke. Race and ethnicity can affect your stroke risk, too. For example, it’s more common for blacks to have a stroke than whites.
Smoking raises your risk for stroke by damaging your blood vessels and increasing your blood pressure. It also increases your risk for lung diseases, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Exposure to secondhand smoke can have a similar effect.
Stroke can be a devastating event that may leave you with permanent disabilities. It can interfere with your quality of life and change how you see yourself. You may have problems with memory, concentration and thinking (cognition). It can also affect your emotional well-being.
Some effects of stroke, such as weakness and slurred speech, don’t last long, but others are more serious. To learn more about what to do if you’ve had a stroke, visit our life after a stroke page. You’ll find information on the recovery process, support and benefits. You can also read personal stories from other stroke survivors. Depending on your location, you may have access to specialist rehabilitation and care services. This includes physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists and social workers. If you are worried about the cost, talk to your doctor.
