11.   What is stroke ?

Stroke, in some countries it is better known as paralysis stroke, Brain attack, cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or cerebrovascular insult (CVI).

As per World Health Organization (WHO)

There are 15 million people who suffer from stroke worldwide each year and more than 12.7 million strokes worldwide are due to High blood pressure.

So what exactly stroke is ?

As per WHO : A stroke is caused by the interruption of the blood supply to the brain, usually because a blood vessel bursts or is blocked by a clot. This cuts off the supply of oxygen and nutrients, causing damage to the brain tissue.

There are three major types of strokes:

1.      Ischemic stroke  

2.      Hemorrhagic stroke

3.      Transient Ischemic stroke  

Ischemic stroke

Basically ischemia is an state that represents an inadequate blood supply to an organ or part of the body.

So ischemic stroke occurs due to interruption of blood supply to brain cells leading to dysfunction of brain tissues. This happen as a blood clot interrupt the blood supply. This is the most common stroke that is around 85% of strokes.

Hemorrhagic Stroke

Basically hemorrhage means an escape of blood from a ruptured blood vessel.

So when there is any rupture in blood vessel and the blood damages the brain cells and Hemorrhagic Stroke occurs.

Transient Ischemic stroke (TIA)  Sometimes symptoms of stroke disappear within 24 hrs. that is called Transient Ischemic stroke 

2.   What are the symptoms of stroke

The patient may feel

1.      problem in speaking or understanding,

2.      inability to move or feel,

3.      drooping face,

4.      weakness in arm or legs,

5.      changes to vision,

6.      loss of memory.

For easy understanding just remember

FAST

Face : is there any distortion in face

Arm : can you lift your both hands

Speech : can you speak properly

 Time : if you notice any one of these symptoms, it’s time to go to doctor without wasting a single minute.

3.   Diagnose and Tests

As soon as you reach the doctor, you are diagnosed with various methods.

1.      Medical history and physical Examination

The very first thing doctor will ask about your medical history as high blood pressure, smoking, family or personal history of stroke and heart disease.           

Next the doctor performs a physical check. He may check numbness on your body in addition to that doctor may check your mental alertness and your balance and coordination. Your blood test may also be done.

2.      Diagnostic Tests

Later doctor may perform any or more diagnostic tests as:

1.      Computed Tomography (CT) Scan of Brain This produces a detail picture of injury. The test is painless. The test can show the areas of stroke having blood clots.

2.     Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)  With the help of magnetic and radio waves MRI creates an image of brain to find out the injury. It can detect the damage to brain tissues.

3.     Carotid ultrasound may be performed to check the blood flow in carotid arteries and any plaque can be detected.

4.     Carotid Angiography  In order to receive a more detail of damage brain tissues, a dye is injected to blood vessels. This dye makes artery more visible to the x-rays.

3.      Heart Tests

1.      Echocardiogram and Electrocardiogram : These tests provides necessary data of your heart as size and shape of heart. How well valves and chambers are working. They can detect any clot present in heart, that may cause stroke.

4.   Treatment

1.      Emergency treatment

1.a Ischemic stroke: Action will be taken to steady your important signs as giving you medicines like aspirin or another antiplatelet medicine.

1.b Hemorrhagic stroke: In case of hemorrhagic stroke, main focus is to control bleeding, lower the blood pressure in the brain, and make steady your important parameters as blood pressure in brain as well.  If there is bleeding due to a ruptured brain aneurysm, you may be operated to repair the aneurysm followed by you will be given clot-dissolving medicines.

2.      Thrombolysis: Thrombolysis is also called thrombolytic therapy. Thrombolytic therapy is a treatment to dissolve blood clots vessels, prevent damage to tissues and organs and to improve blood flow.

3.      Medications: A variety of medicines are used for the people who are at high risk of having stroke.

4.      Surgery: You may need surgery if you have had a stroke.

5.   Prevention and Risk Factors

Prevention is better than cure so follow these steps to prevent the stroke.

1.      No alcohol

2.      Healthy diet

3.      No smoking

4.      Exercise daily

5.      Keep control on blood pressure

6.      Control diabetes

7.      Lowering cholesterol