27/04/2023
Every 3.1 minutes, someone dies of stroke. Stroke is the third leading cause of death, ranking behind diseases of the heart and all forms of cancer. Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the world.
What is a stroke?
Simply put, Stroke = Brain Attack.
A Stroke is a sudden loss of brain function, over seconds to minutes due to blocked or burst blood vessel. A stroke is also known as a cardiovascular accident (CVA) , Cerebrovascular insult(CVI), or Brain attack.
What causes a stroke?
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel bringing oxygen and nutrients to the brain bursts or is clogged by a blood clot or some other particle. Because of this rupture or blockage, part of the brain doesn’t get the blood flow it needs. Deprived of oxygen, nerve cells in the affected area of the brain can’t function and die within minutes. When nerve cells can’t function, the part of the body controlled by these cells can’t function either. The devastating effects of stroke are often permanent because dead brain cells aren’t replaced. As the brain controls everything we say, do and think, a stroke can have a wide variety of effects. A stroke can affect personality; emotions, behavior, and the ability to move and coordinate movement.
What disabilities can result from a stroke?
The types and degrees of disabilities that follow a stroke depend upon which area of the brain is damaged. Generally, stroke can cause five types of disabilities, namely:
1. paralysis or problems controlling movement.
2. Sensory disturbances including pain.
3. Problems using or understanding language.
4. Problems with thinking and memory.
5. Emotional disturbances.
What are the warning signs of a stroke?
If you observe one or more of these signs of a stroke or “brain attack,” do not wait! Delay is dangerous. Signs includes:
Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
Sudden trouble seeing
