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What is a stroke?
What is a stroke?
Arteries carry blood to the brain from the heart. The brain needs a constant supply of blood to supply oxygen and nutrients. Each artery supplies blood to specific areas of the brain. A stroke occurs when one of these arteries is either blocked or bursts. As a result, the area in the brain is deprived of blood so it starts to die. When brain cells die during a stroke, abilities controlled by that area of the brain are lost. How a person is affected depends on where the stroke occurs in the brain, and how much of the brain is damaged.
Video:
Short 4-minute video on what happens during a stroke.
Video:
Short 2-minute video which dramatizes a stroke. Great introduction.
What are the warning signs of a stroke?
What are the warning signs of a stroke?
If you suspect someone is having a stroke, act FAST and call 9-1-1 immediately. FAST stands for:
F: FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A: ARMS: Ask the person to raise their arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S: SPEECH: Ask them to repeat a simple phrase. Is the speech slurred or strange?
T: TIME: If there are any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.
What are the different types of strokes?
What are the different types of strokes?
There are two types of stroke, hemorrhagic and ischemic.
A hemorrhagic stroke is either a brain aneurysm burst or a weakened blood vessel leak. Blood spills around the brain and creates swelling and pressure, damaging cells and tissue. Not exactly a stroke, an aneurysm is a weak spot on the wall of the artery that bulges out into a thin bubble. As it gets bigger, the wall may weaken and burst, which will cause blood to leak inside or around the brain (if that is where it occurred).
An ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke. It occurs when an artery in the brain is blocked. There are two types of ischemic strokes, embolic stroke (where a blood clot or plaque forms, usually in the heart or large arteries leading to the brain, where it blocks a blood vessel causing a stroke) or a thrombotic stroke (a blood clot forms inside an artery supplying blood to the brain, blocking blood flow and causing a stroke).
A transient ischemic attack (TIA), sometimes called a mini-stroke, occurs when an artery within the brain or one going to the brain is blocked for a short time, and the blood flow to that area of the brain slows down or stops. Symptoms include some of the same symptoms seen in stroke (numbness, weakness, loss of vision, trouble speaking, loss of balance or coordination), but after a short time the artery becomes unblocked, or an alternative pathway for blood opens up. Because of that, symptoms last just a short time and then disappear. A TIA is a serious warning, and is a major risk factor for stroke.
Recovering from stroke and preventing another:
Recovering from stroke and preventing another:
Following a stroke, it is important to begin to heal as well as to make changes necessary to prevent another one. Once you have had a stroke, you are at risk for another, so these steps are important.
· If you have high blood pressure, lower it and stabilize. Even if you have no symptoms of high blood pressure, it directly affects your arteries, causing weakness in the walls, and increasing the potential for tears.
· If you have heart conditions which increase your stroke risk, such as atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, valve defects, Afib and enlargement of the heart chambers talk with your doctor about aspirin or blood-thinning therapy may be used to prevent clots.
· Stop smoking, and limit alcohol use
· Exercise daily
· Cut down on sodium and fat
· Lower cholesterol by healthier eating, physical activity and medications.
· If you have sleep apnea, consider a CPAC or other device which will provide oxygen as you sleep.
· Control diabetes. You are two to four times more likely to have a stroke if you have diabetes.
· Consult your doctor if you notice circulatory problems. These also increase risk of stroke.
Summary:
Summary:
Knowing the symptoms of a stroke will help to improve the outcomes of a stroke. Remember FAST, and review it often in your mind, so you can detect these symptoms and call 911 when they occur.
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