The Brain Stroke: Take the Right Steps

December 10, 2024

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The Impact of Brain Strokes

A brain stroke, is a word that brings terror into everyone’s mind, don’t you agree? We often get confused about what to do, if we or someone close to us have a stroke. It is scary; because it can cause disability and death (it is the fifth killer in the world). However, in most cases, this problem can be prevented.

The article will tell you about stroke, its signs and symptoms, and all the necessary information you need.

What causes a stroke?

Brain strokes are divided into two categories, ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemic stroke occurs when the brain cells don’t receive blood (mainly due to blockage of an artery). About 87% of all strokes are ischemic.

A hemorrhagic stroke happens when a blood vessel bursts and bleeds in the brain. About 13% of all strokes are hemorrhagic.

Some risk factors for stroke are hypertension, obesity, high cholesterol, irregularity in heartbeats, diabetes etc. Also, smoking, unhealthy diet, alcoholism, age, family history, and genetics can induce this problem.

How will you know that it’s a stroke?

Confusion
Difficulty while speaking and understanding it
Headache with vomiting, dizziness, and changes in consciousness
Numbness and weakness
Cannot move the face, arm, leg (partial paralysis)
Difficulty in seeing things
Problems with motor coordination (walking, writing, lifting etc)
Depression
Problems with emotion management
Problems with bladder and bowel movement

Sometimes, we may not see these symptoms, so we need to understand following simple things to identify a stroke (FAST principle):

Check if your face is drooping while smiling

Try to lift both your arms up. Is one of the arms drifting downward?

Is your speech slurring while saying even the simplest phrases?

These simple indicators also depict advanced stages of stroke, so it is necessary to act fast.

Children may also suffer from stroke (especially those with congenital heart disease and sickle cell disease are at higher risk). In some cases, infectious diseases, head or neck trauma, and cardiovascular and blood disorders are also responsible. But some children may not have any of these risks, making diagnosing difficult.

Diagnosis:

Blood tests are conducted to understand the cholesterol and blood sugar levels and brain (CT and MRI) scans are necessary. Tests on blood vessels and the heart may provide the answers doctors are looking for. Apart from that, a physical examination is needed, usually performed by a doctor.

A number of blood tests can be done to confirm the diagnosis and determine the cause of the stroke. The C-reactive protein test, blood clotting tests (such as PT – Prothrombin time, and PTT – partial Thromboplastin time) can assess how quickly your blood clots. Additionally, a complete blood count is performed, which includes checking the level of platelets, cells that aid in blood clotting. A blood lipid test measures levels of good cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein or HDL) and bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein or LDL), which may contribute to the risk of a stroke.

Prevention:

These steps can help you prevent the chances of a stroke to an extent:

Try to reduce blood pressure and body weight (through diet and medications)

Start exercising (walking, going up and down the stairs)

Avoid consuming alcohol and stop smoking

If you have palpitations or breathing troubles frequently, consult a doctor.

Get yourself tested for diabetes (and get proper treatment)

Schedule regular check-ups with a healthcare provider to monitor and manage overall health, addressing any potential risk factors.

References:

https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/stroke

https://www.heartandstroke.ca/stroke/what-is-stroke