01/11/2020
WORLD STROKE DAY
What is a stroke?
a stroke occurs when a blockage or bleed of the blood vessels either interrupts or reduces the supply of blood to the brain. When this happens, the brain does not receive enough oxygen or nutrients, and brain cells start to die.
Stroke is a cerebrovascular disease. This means that it affects the blood vessels that feed the brain oxygen. If the brain does not receive enough oxygen, damage may start to occur.
B.E. F.A.S.T – Save a Life from Stroke
The B.E. F.A.S.T. guideline helps you remember that timely treatment is the key to saving someone’s life or quality of life.
B – Balance: Is the person experiencing a sudden loss of balance or coordination?
E – Eyes: Is the person having a sudden change in vision or trouble seeing
F – Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
Stroke is cerebrovascular disease. This means that it affects the blood vessels that feed the brain oxygen. If the brain does not receive enough oxygen, damage may start to occur.
S – Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
T – Time: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.
risk factors for stroke
Each type of stroke has a different set of potential causes. Generally, however, stroke is more likely to affect a person if they:
• have overweight or obesity
• are 55 years of age or older
• have a personal or family history of stroke
• have high blood pressure
• have diabetes
• have high cholesterol
• have heart disease, carotid artery disease, or another vascular disease
• are sedentary
• consume alcohol excessively
• smoke
• use illicit drugs
Symptoms
The symptoms of a stroke often appear without warning. Some of the main symptoms include:
• confusion, including difficulty speaking and understanding speech
• a headache, possibly with altered consciousness or vomiting
• numbness or an inability to move parts of the face, arm, or leg, particularly on one side of the body
• vision problems in one or both eyes
• difficulty walking, including dizziness and a lack of coordination
Stroke can lead to long-term health problems. Depending on the speed of the diagnosis and treatment, a person can experience temporary or permanent disabilities after a stroke.
Diagnosis
Stroke begins rapidly. For the best outcome, a person should receive treatment at a hospital within 3 hours of their symptoms first appearing.
There are several different diagnostic tests a doctor can use to determine the type of stroke. These include:
• Physical examination:
• Blood tests:
• CT scan:
• MRI scan:
• Carotid ultrasound:
• Cerebral angiogram:
• Echocardiogram:
Stroke treatment
Treatment for stroke depends on the type of stroke:
Ischemic stroke and TIA
These stroke types are caused by a blood clot or other blockage in the brain. For that reason, they’re largely treated with similar techniques, which include:
Antiplatelet and anticoagulants
Clot-breaking drugs
Mechanical thrombectomy
Stents
Surgery
In the rare instances that other treatments don’t work, your doctor may perform surgery to remove a blood clot and plaques from your arteries. This may be done with a catheter, or if the clot is especially large, your doctor may open an artery to remove the blockage.
Disclaimer:-
This is a patient awareness initiative issued by Speak Health in the public interest. The views and opinions expressed by the doctor are his own and are not meant to substitute any patient-specific medical advice.
