Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and it is the leading cause of adult disability. The main difference between stroke and the other two leading killers in our country (cancer and heart disease) is that strokes are 80% preventable.
A stroke is when the blood flow in the brain is interrupted by a clot which can then cause a burst within an artery or a blood vessel, essentially causing a bleed in that area of the brain. When this happens, the portions of the brain that are affected by the stroke are deprived of oxygen, resulting in portions of the brain dying. The functions that are controlled by these sections of the brain are affected, resulting in loss of speech, physical abilities, and even memory. Some of these functions can return as the brain heals over time, and with the aid of physical, occupational, and speech therapies. The brain is an amazing thing, and in some cases, can actually retrain other portions to take over for what has been lost. Age and overall health can play a large factor in the recovery of someone who has had a stroke.
People who have suffered a stroke will typically notice a weakness in one side of their body. If a stroke has occurred in the left side of the brain, the right side of the body will be weak. If the stroke has occurred in the right side of the brain, the left side of the body will be weak. Depending on the severity of the stroke, the person will sometimes lose feeling in an arm or a hand, while sometimes a person can be severely disabled by the event, leaving the entire affected side of the body in a type of paralysis, leaving them unable to walk, unable to support themselves while sitting in an upward position, or even unable to eat, as their facial muscles and muscles in the mouth and throat can be affected. If the portion of the brain that controls our memory is involved in the stroke, obviously the person’s memory will be affected and if the speech portion of the brain is affected, the person may speak in sentences that do not make any sense, or may even speak in slurs that cannot be understood by others, or even by themselves. With all of the different portions of our brain that do so many different things, all of these things can be ultimately disabled with the occurrence of a stroke. An interest in music or the arts can be lost, or a knack for math and science may disappear.
The initial important thing to do for a stroke is to get to a hospital as soon as possible. Preferably, a hospital that houses a stroke treatment center. Once arrived, and a stroke has been diagnosed, there are a few things that can possibly be done depending on what type of stroke has taken place, and the severity of it.
An Ischemic Stroke is when an obstruction takes place, resulting in a block of blood and oxygen to areas of the brain. Ischemic Strokes occur about 83% of the time. Treatment can often include clot dissolving drugs which can open up that area in a very short period of time. The potential problem with this treatment is that these drugs should be administered within the first few hours of the stroke in order to be effective.
A Hemorrhagic Stroke occurs when a rupture occurs, and bleeds into surrounding areas of the brain. This is called an Intracerebral Hemorrhage. A Subarachnoid Hemorrhage is when the bleed takes place in the space between the brain and the skull. A Hemorrhagic stroke can be caused by either an aneurysm or a malformation of blood vessels and they occur the other 17% of the time. Treatment for this type of stroke focuses on treating the underlying cause of the problem which can often include keeping the person’s blood pressure controlled, as many of these strokes can occur because of a spike in blood pressure (hypertension). This can help minimize the damage that occurs, and can prevent any further problems. Often surgery is needed to do a number of things such as clip off the artery that may still be bleeding into the brain.
There are things that can be done to prevent a stroke. Regularly seeing your physician is very important, as your doctor can often catch problems that could lead to a stroke further down the line. Factors such as high blood pressure often occur without symptoms, and are not caught until it is checked at your doctor’s visit. Other factors such as heart disease, smoking, and diabetes can all contribute to your risk for having a stroke. Age is no longer a factor, as more and more young adults of all races are suffering from strokes. Although uncommon, fetuses in the womb can even undergo a stroke. Another way to stay educated is to be aware of the symptoms of a stroke.
These include:
-Sudden numbness or weakness, especially if it is on only one side of the body
-Sudden confusion
-Trouble speaking
-Sudden headache
-Trouble seeing
If you or someone you know is showing one or more of these warning signs of a stroke, call for help immediately. The faster you can respond to a stroke, the higher the chance of recovery.
