More than 200,000 people a year suffer from a terrible condition where their blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients are blocked by clots or ruptures. This condition is known as a stroke and is also known as cerebrovascular accidents, or CVA’s. This is a term used as they originate in blood vessels connecting to the heart which can affect areas of the brain. Strokes are similar to many other conditions, including; heart attacks, anginas, transient ischemic attacks, etc.
There are various signs that your loved ones may be in the middle of a stroke. One very frequent sign is speech difficulty along with the drooping of the side of the face. People who are exhibiting these signs along with muscle weakness on one side may be in danger. Besides signs, many symptoms also exist. For example, paralysis has been reported in a lot of cases. In addition to this, when having a stroke, people may have trouble moving certain body parts and also have trouble walking. Numbness may follow these symptoms.
When speaking of strokes, it is almost impossible to focus on just one type of stroke, as there are several. For example, one type of stroke is the ischemic stroke. This occurs when a blood vessel connecting to the brain is obstructed and occurs 87% of the time. Hemorrhagic strokes occur when a weakened blood vessel ruptures. The 2 types that happen to rupture are usually aneurysms and AVAs, the most common cause being high blood pressure. Transient ischemic strokes typically are called “mini strokes” and are more of a warning stroke, but are indicative of a serious temporary clot. Cryptogenic strokes have an unknown cause, and can be dangerous due to this. Brain stem strokes affect both sides of the body and may leave the patient in a locked-in state.
Symptoms of stroke may include:
Trouble speaking and understanding what others are saying. You may experience confusion, slur your words or have difficulty understanding speech.
Paralysis or numbness of the face, arm or leg. You may develop sudden numbness, weakness or paralysis in your face, arm or leg. This often affects just one side of your body. Try to raise both your arms over your head at the same time. If one arm begins to fall, you may be having a stroke. Also, one side of your mouth may droop when you try to smile.
Problems seeing in one or both eyes. You may suddenly have blurred or blackened vision in one or both eyes, or you may see double.
Headache. A sudden, severe headache, which may be accompanied by vomiting, dizziness or altered consciousness, may indicate that you're having a stroke.
Trouble walking. You may stumble or lose your balance. You may also have sudden dizziness or a loss of coordination.
According to Mayo Clinic, if you notice any signs of a stroke, you should think “FAST” and do the following:
Face. Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
Arms. Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? Or is one arm unable to rise?
Speech. Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is his or her speech slurred or strange?
Time. If you observe any of these signs, call 911 or emergency medical help immediately.
Call 911 or your local emergency number right away. Don't wait to see if symptoms stop. Every minute counts. The longer a stroke goes untreated, the greater the potential for brain damage and disability.
There are many risk factors and causes for a stroke to occur. Thy include the following:
Lifestyle risk factors:
Being overweight or obese is a dangerous factor. Because of excess fat in the body, inflammation is likely to occur, which causes poor blood flow and potential blockages - two major causes of stroke
Drinking an excess amount of alcohol and related beverages can cause your liver from making substances that help your blood clot. This can increase your risk of having a stroke caused by bleeding in your brain.
Use of illegal drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine might produce strokes by direct effects on the cerebral circulation, including elevated blood pressure, vasculitis, and cerebral vasospasm.
Medical Risk Factors:
High blood pressure can also cause blood clots to form in the arteries leading to your brain, blocking blood flow and potentially causing a stroke.
According to Stroke UK, “The carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen in your blood, and the nicotine makes your heart beat faster and raises your blood pressure. This increases your risk of a stroke. Smoking can also trigger an episode of atrial fibrillation, a heart condition that is a risk factor for stroke.
High cholesterol: having too much cholesterol in your blood can cause fatty deposits to build up in your arteries. This can make the arteries narrowed and stiff, making it harder for blood to flow. It also increases the chance of a blood clot developing.
Diabetes can cause strokes because having too much sugar in your blood damages the blood vessels. It can make the blood vessels become stiff, and can also cause a build-up of fatty deposits
According to Stroke Organization UK, “Obstructive sleep apnea decreases blood flow to the brain, elevates blood pressure within the brain and eventually harms the brain's ability to modulate these changes and prevent damage to itself. The findings may help explain why people with sleep apnea are more likely to suffer strokes and to die in their sleep
Cardiovascular disease, including heart failure, heart defects, heart infection or abnormal heart rhythm, such as atrial fibrillation can all cause strokes
Personal or family history of stroke, heart attack or transient ischemic attack
COVID-19 infections. First, infections and inflammation increase the risk of stroke. COVID-19 is an infection that produces a strong inflammatory reaction from the body. Second, COVID-19 seems to trigger cardiac events: heart attack, dangerous heart rhythms, etc. All of these factors can lead to a stroke.
Again, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. Don't wait to see if symptoms stop. Every minute counts. The longer a stroke goes untreated, the greater the potential for brain damage and disability.
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