| Stroke |
Strokes occur when the blood supply to the brain is blocked, this deprives the brain of oxygen which it needs to function. If oxygen deprivation lasts more than a few minutes, parts of brain tissue die, resulting in permanent damage. Over 80% of all strokes are caused by atherosclerosis, which results in a gradual buildup of fatty plaques on artery walls. The plaques narrow the arteries and can block them, also a blood clot can become lodged in the blocked area of a blood vessel. A stroke can also result if a blood vessel serving the brain ruptures, interrupting the flow of blood. The risk of suffering a stroke is increased by several factors. The two most common high risk factors are atherosclerosis and hi-blood pressure, which weakens the walls of the arteries. Hyperlipidemia also increases the risk of strokes. Diabetes and smoking also increase the chances of stroke as they both increase the risk of high blood pressure and atherosclerosis. Other serious problems that add to the risk of stroke include an irregular heartbeat and/or a damaged heart valve. These can cause disruptions in the flow of blood in the heart’s chambers that lead to the formation of clots or even bacterial growths that can break off and travel through the arteries, and ultimately block the flow of blood to the brain. A recent heart attack also increases the risk. Women who take oral contraceptives are at higher risk of stroke than those who practice different methods of birth control The consequences of a stroke, will depend on whether the brain suffers permanent damage and, if it does, exactly what area of the brain is damaged. If your brain is deprived of oxygen only briefly, you may experience a temporary loss of speech, visual problems, confusion, weakness, and tremors, but then return to normal once the flow of blood to the brain is restored. This type of problem is termed a transient ischemic attack, or TIA. Sometimes TIAs maybe a sign of future trouble, but not always; some people have them repeatedly without appearing to suffer any serious consequences. A major stroke that causes brain damage can happen within minutes or even seconds, or it may develop slowly over a period of hours or even a day or more. The person may be left with impairment in bodily sensations, movement, vision, and/or speech. In one way, the slowly developing type of stroke can be the more dangerous of the two, because the person may not recognize it as an emergency right away, and delaying treatment can be a serious problem. Symptoms of stroke usually include one or more of the following: a sudden, intense headache; numbness, dizziness, weakness, and/or paralysis of the face, arm, or leg, often affecting only one side of the body; blurred vision or loss of vision in one or both eyes; difficulty swallowing; difficulty speaking or slurred speech; sudden confusion and/or difficulty understanding simple statements; and dizziness, unsteadiness, and loss of balance and coordination, possibly leading to a fall. It is possible for a person having a stroke to lose consciousness altogether. About 33% of people who suffer strokes do not survive the attack. Another third are left with some degree of disability, and the remaining third recover completely. Quick treatment is the key to survival and recovery. It is recommended to eat better, take nutritional supplements, and reduce stress as preventative measures. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||