Stroke
A stroke, often referred to as a brain attack, occurs when blood flow to a portion of the brain is obstructed or when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures. This interruption or burst results in damage or death to affected brain tissue, potentially leading to long-lasting disability or even death.
Understanding the health conditions and lifestyle behaviors that heighten stroke risk is crucial.A stroke is a critical medical emergency that can result in enduring brain damage, prolonged disability, or fatality. Symptoms vary from mild weakness to complete paralysis or numbness on one side of the face or body. Additional signs may encompass sudden and severe headaches, weakness, visual impairment, and difficulties with speech .
Strokes occur through two main mechanisms: ischemia and hemorrhage.
Ischemic stroke:
Ischemia happens when brain cells receive insufficient oxygen due to blocked blood vessels, which can occur through clot formation (thrombosis), clot fragments traveling from elsewhere in the body (embolism), small vessel blockage (lacunar stroke), or unknown causes (cryptogenic strokes).
Hemorrhagic stroke:
Hemorrhagic strokes involve bleeding within the brain (intracerebral) due to torn or ruptured blood vessels, or bleeding into the space between the brain and its outer covering (subarachnoid space), caused by damage to blood vessels passing through the arachnoid membrane.
Stroke symptoms may include:
- Weakness or paralysis on one side of the body.
- Aphasia, difficulty speaking, or loss of speech.
- Slurred or garbled speech (dysarthria).
- Loss of muscle control on one side of the face.
- Sudden partial or total loss of one or more senses (vision, hearing, smell, taste, touch).
- Blurred or double vision (diplopia).
- Loss of coordination or clumsiness (ataxia).
- Dizziness or vertigo.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Neck stiffness.
- Emotional instability or personality changes.
- Confusion or agitation.
Treating a stroke varies depending on its type and specific circumstances.
Ischemic stroke: The primary goal is to swiftly restore blood flow to the affected brain regions to prevent permanent damage or minimize severity. This typically involves administering thrombolytics, medications that dissolve blood clots, and may include catheterization procedures.
Hemorrhagic stroke: Treatment focuses on managing bleeding based on its location and severity. Lowering blood pressure is often prioritized to minimize bleeding and prevent worsening. Another approach involves enhancing clotting to stop bleeding. Surgery may be necessary to alleviate pressure on the brain caused by accumulated blood.