Stroke can happen to anyone at anytime. A stroke is caused as the blood supply to the brain is interrupted or reduced. As the blood supply is cut off to some brain cells, the cells start to die because of lack of oxygen and nutrients. The effects of a stroke depend on which area of the brain is affected. The sooner a stroke is diagnosed, the better the outcome. Rapid treatment can ensure that less cells die.
Stroke is the 4th leading cause of death in the USA. 60% of strokes are in women. You are at higher risk if you are over 55 years, overweight, do not exercise, drink too much alcohol, or have a family history.
Signs of a stroke
The FAST test is a quick way to check someone for symptoms.
Face: Smile! – Does one side of their face droop?
Arms: Raise both arms. Is one higher than the other? Do they have a hard time holding one up?
Speech: Repeat a short, simple sentence, like “Mary had a little lamb.” Do they slur their words? Is it hard to understand them?
Time: If any of these are “yes,” call emergency services.
Treatment
There are three main kinds of stroke; ischemic, hemorrhagic and transient ischemic attack (TIA).
Ischemic stroke is the most common type and is caused by a blood clot that blocks the blood vessels. This is most often caused by fatty deposits in the blood vessels. Immediate treatment is with medications that dissolve the clot and improve blood flow to the part of the brain being deprived of blood. In the USA tissue plasminogen activator (tPA, also known as IV rtPA) is given. In the UK, alteplase is used. Treatment has to be given as soon as possible and no later than 4.5 hours after the stroke. After the initial treatment, other medications will be used to reduce the risk of the stroke reoccurring.
Hemorrhagic stroke counts for about 20% of strokes and is caused by bleeding in or around the brain as the blood vessels rupture or leak. Treatment involves controlling the bleeding and relieving the pressure on the brain. A surgical procedure may be required.
Transient ischemic attack stroke is often called a mini stroke. It is like a stroke, producing similar symptoms, but usually lasting only a few minutes and causing no permanent damage. About 1 in 3 people who have a transient ischemic attack will eventually have a stroke, with about half occurring within a year after the transient ischemic attack. Doctors determine what caused the mini stroke to try to prevent a full stroke occurring. Treatments include anti-platlet drugs and anti-coagulants.
Please share this post with everyone you know as the quicker the treatment, the better the outcome.
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