A stroke occurs when blood vessels in the brain burst (ischemic stroke) or are blocked (hemorrhagic stroke). When a blood clot blocks blood vessels or a vessel bleeds into brain tissue, the brain does not receive oxygen and fails to work properly, preventing parts of the body from working properly as well. About 80% of strokes are triggered by a blood clot.
Brain damage can occur within minutes of a stroke so it is extremely important to recognize the symptoms and seek medical assistance. Symptoms include: sudden numbness, paralysis, weakness in your face, arm, or leg, especially on only one side of your body, new problems with walking or balance, sudden vision changes, drooling or slurred speech, new problems speaking or understanding simple statements, feeling confused and sudden, severe headaches that are different from past headaches. A stroke can be diagnosed within 3 hours of experiencing symptoms.
Treatments vary based on the type of stroke. For an ischemic stroke, medicine is given to dissolve blood clots. For a hemorrhagic stroke, surgery may be required, as well as other medicines. After having a stroke, stroke therapy may be recommended by your doctor in order to regain mobility.
In order to prevent a stroke, it is important to avoid smoking, eat a heart-healthy diet, get at least 2.5 hours of exercise a week, stay at a healthy weight, control your blood pressure and cholesterol level, keep your sugar levels as close to normal as possible if you are diabetic and limit your alcohol intake.
According to the CDC, more than 140,000 people in the U.S. die each year from stroke, making it the country’s second leading cause of death for women, and the third for men. About 795,000 strokes occur each year. At least one quarter occur in people younger than 65 which makes it a health subject important to several age groups. In a recent publication from St. Agnes Hospital, Dr. Marian LaMonte, neurology chief at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore offered the following advice about strokes:
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Hong Kong ophthalmologists report that a study of people who suffer mini-strokes called silent cerebral infarcts could help explain the medical mystery of normal-tension glaucoma.
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A stroke is the rapidly developing loss of brain function(s) due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain and according to the CDC is currently the third leading cause of death in the United States. Doctors are currently exhausting their resources in order to generate a method in which they could stimulate and control the blood flow in a stroke patient’s body in order to prevent further damage. According to a study by Italian researchers published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association researchers found blood flow and respiratory rates can sync with music, indicating that music could one day be a therapeutic tool for blood supply control and rehabilitation.
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Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Due to its devastating effects, there is countless research being done in the field of neurology to develop methodologies and process that will lessen the risk of stroke. Recently, HealthDay Reporter published an article stating that taking cholesterol lowering statins after a stroke reduces the risk of a second stroke.
According to recent studies, compression stockings do not reduce the risk of blood clots in stroke patients.
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Stroke is the leading cause of disability in adults and the third leading cause of death in America. According to the CDC woman are three times more likely to suffer from stroke than man and thus are two times more likely to die from stroke. In fact, twice as many women die of stroke than they do of breast cancer each year. Unfortunately, women are still more concerned about getting tested and minimizing their risk for breast cancer as opposed to stroke. Stroke.org recently published an article aimed at informing women of the unique risk factors they posses.
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Strokes are a result of a temporary interruption of blood flow to the brain which is induced by blockage of the arteries. Stroke has grown to become the third leading cause of death in the in the United States taking the lives of 143,579 Americans per year. Additionally, there are 600,000 Americans who suffer a stroke each year and attempt to return to their daily activities with the devastating burden of the after affects of a stroke. The after effects of a stroke often leave patients disabled and unable to return to their routine lifestyle. The Stroke Center recently published an article which offered stoke patients advice for how they could attempt to best return to their daily routines and minimize the after effects of their stroke.
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May is National Stroke Awareness month. The , National Stroke Association is calling on every individual to share information about how to: STOP Stroke through risk factor management, to Act F.A.S.T. to increase recognition of and response to stroke symptoms and to Spread HOPE about the lifelong journey of stroke recovery.
As previously discussed, it is essential to know the warning signs of stroke, as having the quickest reaction time is in direct correlation of how much damage can be avoided.
Additionally, the National Stroke Association has put together a list of resources for people looking to get the word out about stroke. The list of participation ideas is great for events whether they’re online, or in person.
How will you promote Stroke Awareness Month?
In order to be aware of the signs of a stroke, it is important to know what a stroke is, and why acting quickly makes a big difference. According to FamilyDoctor.org, “Most strokes are caused by a blockage in an artery that carries blood to the brain. This can cause that part of the brain to be damaged, and you may lose control of a function that is controlled by that part of the brain. For example, you could lose the use of an arm or leg, or the ability to speak. The damage can be temporary or permanent, partial or complete. Doctors have found that if you get treatment right away after symptoms start, there is a better chance of getting the blood moving to your brain, and less chance of damage”.
What are some warning signs of a stroke?
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