What is a stroke?

MY column last week on Alzheimer’s has prompted another individual to share their family’s story about taking care of a relative who had suffered a stroke. At the time, they did not understand what was happening or even knew much about strokes. I decided to talk about it today as they are very common and more importantly they are sudden, so knowledge and preparation are key.

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to parts of the brain is interrupted or reduced, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. When this happens, brain cells begin to die. It is considered a medical emergency and immediate treatment is necessary as early action can minimise brain damage and additional potential complications.

There are three different kinds of strokes, which are caused by different events. An ischemic stroke is caused by a blocked artery and accounts for about 80% of strokes. They occur when the arteries to your brain become narrowed or blocked, causing severely reduced blood flow. The most common ischemic strokes include: Thrombotic stroke, when a blood clot (thrombus) forms in one of the arteries that supply blood to your brain and Embolic stroke, when a blood clot or other debris forms away from your brain — commonly in your heart — and is swept through your bloodstream to lodge in narrower brain arteries.
A hemorrhagic stroke is caused by a burst or leaking blood vessel. There are also a few types of these which include Intracerebral haemorrhage, when a blood vessel in the brain bursts and spills into the surrounding brain tissue, damaging brain cells and Subarachnoid haemorrhage, when an artery on or near the surface of your brain bursts and spills into the space between the surface of your brain and your skull. This bleeding is often signalled by a sudden, severe headache.

Finally, a Transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a temporary disruption of blood flow to the brain from a clot or debris. This one causes the least damage and is very rarely permanent. It is typically known as a mini-stroke but not to take lightly as it is a risk factor for other larger and more dangerous strokes.

Many factors may increase the risk of a stroke. There are lifestyle risk factors such as physical inactivity, being over-weight or heavy alcohol or drug use. This means that eating well, sleeping well and exercise can prevent the possibility of a stroke. There are medical risk factors such as high blood pressure or cholesterol, diabetes, cardiovascular disease or any heart issues. There is also a genetic component based on first-rate relatives. There are a few other things that make one more at risk, such as age, race and sex. For example, being over the age of 55, Afro- Guyanese and male are characteristics that make one more likely to have a stroke.

Signs of a stroke 
Individuals who are experiencing strokes will have trouble speaking or understanding what is being said around them. They may be confused and tend to slur their words if they try to speak. There may be trouble with vision in one or both eyes.
Paralysis is also common in parts of the body such as the face, arms or legs. A lot of the time, this just happens on one side of the body. This, of course, causes issues with balance and coordination. Sudden and severe headaches are also common which can be accompanied by nausea or vomiting.
There is a simple but effective ‘FAST’ test to see if someone around you may be having a stroke.

·  Face. Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop or fall?
·  Arms. Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? Or is one arm unable to rise?
·  Speech. Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is his or her speech slurred or strange?
·  Time. If you observe any of these signs, take them to the nearest health centre immediately.
Some permanent complications and disabilities may come with a stroke. These include paralysis or loss of muscle movement, difficulty swallowing, difficulty with language, including speaking or understanding speech, reading, or writing. There may also be permanent memory loss or judgement and reasoning difficulties. There may be re-occurring pain or strange sensations throughout the body, especially the parts directly that had been affected by the stroke. Finally, there may be some emotional problems such as difficulty controlling their emotions, or they may develop mental health issues such as anxiety or depression.

So, based on what we know so far, there are a few preventative measures that we all can take to prevent a stroke. Again, eating well, sleeping well and exercise are key. Control high blood pressure (hypertension) – this is one of the most important things you can do to avoid a stroke. Watch and try to lower your cholesterol levels – eating less saturated fat and trans –fats as these may reduce the plaque in your arteries. Manage stress with healthy coping skills – no cigarettes, alcohol or any other hard drugs.

It is possible to recover from a stroke, depending on the severity of it. The impact of the stroke depends on the area of the brain involved and the amount of tissue that is damaged. After emergency treatment, stroke care focuses on helping the individual recover as much function as possible and return to independent living. The success of this depends upon the underlying health of the patient and the severity of the stroke. Rehabilitation may take weeks or months but it is possible with the right help and support.

Thank you for reading and please send in any topics to caitlinvieira@gmail.com.
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