Stroke is a fatal cardiovascular disease that requires urgent medical attention.
According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), 1 in every 6 deaths from cardiovascular disease was caused by stroke. Moreover, around 800 thousand people in the United States have already experienced a stroke, which could occur every 40 seconds. Someone dies of a stroke every 3.5 seconds, which is very alarming.
Learning the nature, symptoms, and possible causes of stroke is vital in preventing it. Through these signs and symptoms, a person can seek medical assistance as soon as possible if there might be someone having a stroke. There is a greater chance of survival when treatment is dealt with instantaneously.
What is Stroke?
Stroke is a medical condition that occurs when the brain shuts down due to the loss of blood supply. Consequently, if the brain fails to receive enough oxygen due to the decrease in blood supply, cells in the brain will start to die. This means that stroke is both a cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. Although stroke is treatable, it may inevitably lead to death or permanent disability.
There are two types of strokes, namely:
1. Ischemic stroke
The most familiar type of stroke is ischemic stroke since it comprises 87% of all cases. An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot stops blood and oxygen from entering an area of the brain, leading to oxygen and nutrient deficiency.
2. Hemorrhagic stroke
Hemorrhagic stroke or bleeding takes place when a weakened blood vessel ruptures. This may be caused by arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) or aneurysms. This type of stroke comprises around 13% of stroke cases and could either occur within the brain (intracerebral) or in the space surrounding the brain (subarachnoid) hemorrhage.
Symptoms of Stroke
Before you can seek medical attention, you should watch out for early signs and symptoms of an occurring stroke. A stroke is deadly when you fail to recognize if the symptoms have already begun. It only takes a short period before a person loses oxygen and blood supply or hemorrhages.
Signs and symptoms of stroke may often occur without warning, so here are the main symptoms that you should look out for:
- Difficulty in the bladder or bowel control
- Disorientation leading to slurred speech or difficulty in communication
- Dizziness and difficulty in walking
- Face drooping
- Headache and vomiting
- Inability to move certain parts of the body, especially on one side of the body
- Lack of coordination
- Loss of balance
- Paralysis of half or both sides of the body
- Problems with the vision of one or both eyes
- Seizures
- Weakness or numbness of certain body parts (arm weakness)
If you think someone is experiencing a stroke, call 911 or your local emergency hotline to seek immediate aid as soon as possible. The longer the stroke duration, the greater the possibility of potential brain damage, death, or disability.
Causes of Stroke
There are different types of strokes, and each type has a distinct set of potential causes. Here are some known types of strokes and their causes:
1. Cerebral Hemorrhage
This type of stroke occurs in the surrounding brain tissue due to a rupture and bleeding of a blood vessel in the brain. Such that the bleeding leads to stroke symptoms as a result of blood and oxygen deprivation. This may also lead to cerebral edema or swelling of the brain tissue because blood can irritate your brain cells.
2. Embolic Stroke
This type of stroke is caused by either an atherosclerotic plaque or a blood clot. However, the blood clot occurs outside the brain or elsewhere in the body and travels to the bloodstream until it reaches your brain.
This type of stroke is common in patients with atrial fibrillation (irregular or rapid heart rhythm/beat), which causes blood clots to form. Moreover, the blood clot stops the blood flow, which leads to glucose and oxygen deprivation resulting in a stroke.
3. Vasculitis
A less common cause of stroke would be vasculitis. Vasculitis is an inflammation of the blood vessels that thickens the blood vessel’s wall. Such that blood flow is restricted, leading to tissue, cell, or organ damage.
This inflammation could hinder the flow of blood to your brain. It will automatically lead to a lack of oxygen and blood supply to your brain, soon leading to stroke.
4. Thrombotic Stroke
The most common type and cause of stroke is thrombotic stroke. This type of stroke is due to the blockage of an artery in the brain by a clot (thrombosis). Usually, cholesterol plaque ruptures and initiates the clotting process in the brain’s blood vessels.
This is similar to vasculitis. The only difference is that in a thrombotic stroke, the clot happens in the brain, while vasculitis starts from other body parts such as the heart or its arteries.
In addition to the causes of stroke, here are some general risk factors that are likely to cause this cardiovascular disease:
- Hypertension
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Obese or overweight
- Usage of illicit drugs
- Have a carotid artery, heart, or vascular disease
- Excessive consumption of alcohol
- Stroke present in family history
- Inactive or sedentary lifestyle
Stroke is a very deadly disease. It could either lead you to death or permanent disability. That is why it is important to know the early signs and symptoms of stroke so you can urgently act upon it. The good news is that stroke is treatable and relies on the quickness of medical attention upon occurrence.
There are also many ways to prevent stroke, such as exercise and avoiding bad cholesterol in your daily diet. Do not forget to join with Power stroke clinical trials to help you understand the causes of stroke, treatment, and its recovery.