Stroke - An Overview

Stroke is the weakness of the limbs on one side of the body; either permanently or transiently often with associated loss or disturbance of speech. Stroke can be completed or evolving, major or minor. One in every four of those suffering from Stroke will die of it within five years. However, Stroke is uncommon before the age of 40 years.

Stroke occurs as a result of deprivation of blood supply to an area of the brain, for a period long enough to cause death (infraction) of brain tissues to that area (in which case the disability is permanent). Where the damage is to the brain tissue is not long enough to cause death (ischaemia), the damage is transient.

This deprivation of blood supply could be due to a blocked vessel supplying the affected part of the brain. This is the most common cause of Stroke responsible for about 80 percent of Stroke cases.

Stroke could occur also due to bleeding into the brain tissue. This accounts for 20 percent of all Stroke cases. Any health condition which could result in any of the above could cause Stroke. Such conditions include Hypertension (which is a major culprit), smoking, heart disease and diabetes.

Any animal fat-rich diet can predispose deposit of fatty plaques in the blood vessel which can cause narrowing. This is associated with hardening of the blood vessel which occurs with aging leading to condition called Arteriosclerosis.

Risk factors which can predispose one to developing Stroke include, a high consumption of alcohol, smoking, sedentary lifestyle and obesity. As has been said, about 40 percent of Stroke can be prevented.

The most important step towards preventing Stroke is to take care of your self. A regular check on blood pressure will help to identify hypertension early and this leads to early control. Low and or moderate alcohol consumption will reduce the risk of Stroke, so will a reduction in weight and cessation of smoking,

An active lifestyle has also been identified to reduce risk of developing Stroke. Regular exercise will help blood flow and weight control.

Treatment takes two forms: immediate treatment and stabilization and rehabilitation. The type of disability depends on the area and size of the brain affected.

While treatment is aimed at preventing further damage and deterioration, rehabilitation aims at helping the patient lead a relatively comfortable life even with the disability. It includes physiotherapy and the control of the cause of the Stroke.

By Noble Ihezie

More About Eschemic Stroke

The main symptom of ischemic stroke is an immediate or sub-acute occurrence of neurological deficits following prodromal symptoms. This kind of stroke usually attacks when the patient wakes up in the morning or when the person has no physical activity.

Ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked and blood flow is stopped. The blockage may be from a blood clot. A clot that forms in artery is called a thrombus. A thrombus usually does not occur in healthy brain artery, but tends to form at or adjacent to an area of a vessel damaged by atherosclerosis. A stroke caused by thrombus in brain artery is called cerebral atherothrombosis or atherothrombotic stroke.

A clot that forms in the heart or a blood vessel leading to the brain is called an embolus. This vessel may be the carotid artery in the front of the brain or the vertebral or basilar artery in the back of the brain. A stroke caused by embolus is called an embolic stroke. An embolus tends to form in the heart because of some diseases, e.g. atrial fibrillation (irregular heart beat), atrial septal defect (small hole in the heart chamber wall), and acute myocardial infarction (heart attack). An embolus occurs in the carotid artery because the vessel was narrowed.

The third form of ischemic stroke is called a lacunar stroke. This stroke results from occlusion of arterioles (small arteries) that penetrate deep into the brain. The small size of the vessel sometime makes lacunar stroke more difficult to diagnose than two types above.


By Any Safarodiyah


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Signs of Stroke - Can Medications Cause a Stroke in an Otherwise Healthy Person?

Adam was in a good health condition when a stroke hit him. He was doing sports frequently, did not smoke or drink and was not overweight. He also was not aware of suffering from hypertension. What went wrong?

There are various signs of a stroke. It is not true that only obese or old people or people with hypertension can get a stroke. However, Adam did suffer from sever arthritis and took different medications. One was known to cause blood clotting.

Adam was only 42 when he had a stroke. Could the arthritis medication be the reason for it? Probably. Medications can have many different side effects. We all know that. Especially when you take different medications at the same time then the combination to those drugs can have unexpected results. Never take medication without consulting a physician and always tell your physician about the other drugs you probably take.

You often can not tell that somebody has a stroke or not. But there is no time to waste. Getting quick treatment is crucial. If you believe you have a stroke then call 911 if you can. If you think somebody else has a stroke ask him or her to lift the arms, smile broadly or repeat a simple sentence. If the person can not lift an arm, the smile looks odd or can not repeat the sentence you should get immediate help. If in doubt, get a physician and do not mess around.

Do not give the person medication. It could be that this medication caused the stroke and makes it even worse. There is nothing much you can do then getting help as quickly as possible.


By Gerd Cornelius Pacher


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Lipitor Saves You From Heart Stroke But Not From Ischemic Stroke

According to a study by Pfizer, patients who use Lipitor (a drug made by Pfizer to treat heart disease patients) are less expected to suffer a second stroke.

This research was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that the drug which is known as Statins (type of a cholesterol fighting drugs), reduce the opportunity of getting another heart stroke by sixteen percent over five years.

According to the latest medical statistics, heart stroke is the third largest cause of death in the United States, following diseases of the heart and cancer. Stroke is a disorder in which the arteries to the brain happen to be blocked or crack which leads in death of the brain tissue.

“The study should prompt doctors to routinely prescribe statin drugs to all people who are at risk of suffering a stroke instead of just prescribing it to people at risk of suffering a heart attack”. That is what David Kent wrote, a physician at Tufts-New England Medical Center, in a viewpoint section in the journal.

After the researchers done the study, they found that two 218 of 2,365 patients who used Lipitor urbanized an ischemic stroke, in the ischemic stroke the flows of the blood to the brain is blocked. On the other hand, 274 patients of 2,366 patients who used placebo urbanized the ischemic stroke.

The side effect results showed that Lipitor increases the danger of hemorrhagic stroke by 67 percent. Fifty five hemorrhagic stroke conditions appeared in patients who used Lipitor while there were 33 hemorrhagic stroke conditions in patients who used placebo.


By Abdulmajeed Alkatheeri


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Signs of a Mini Stroke - Do Not Ignore These Symptoms

If you are having a TIA or transient ischemic attack, the following symptoms may be noticed. You may not experience every symptom or you may experience others as well.

These are some good guidelines to go by:

Double vision - Similar to a double exposure on camera film or you may see "trails" from movement

Dizziness - The room or everything around you starts to spin. You may feel nauseous.

Sudden severe headache

Weakness- Suddenly you are unable to lift or maybe even move.

Speech Problems - You might think you are talking but nothing is coming out or you may not be coherent.

Confusion - Everything may seem out of kilter. Time and space becomes a jumble. Nothing being said to you makes any sense

Sudden forgetfulness- Everybody does this sometimes, but if you forget what you are doing and are surprised about your current location/activity/surroundings, this could be a sign of a TIA.

The symptoms of a mini stroke only last for a few minutes. If it continues or the symptoms are more severe, you may be having a massive stroke. Sometimes a mini stroke can result in unconsciousness but a massive stroke almost always does. If you have been told you are at risk for stroke, be sure your loved ones know the signs to look for as you may not be able to tell them even if you remain awake. In fact, it is more dangerous if you are awake and unable to tell anyone. Unconsciousness is usually obvious to those around you whereas silence or dizziness may not be.

Whether you experience a mini stroke or a massive one, it is imperative that you get to a hospital immediately. A mini stroke can lead to a massive stroke if you are not treated promptly.


By Gerd Cornelius Pacher


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