A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain has been halted due to bleeding into the brain or by the formation of a clot. This means that blood flow cannot reach other important areas of the brain, therefore resulting in a stroke. A person experiencing a stroke will begin to exhibit signs. Some signs can be minor and may last for only a few minutes, however if the signs last much longer it is imperative to seek the assistance of a medical professional. The longer the symptoms go on unattended, the more damage they can cause, thus resulting in lifelong disability.

Signals of a stroke.

- A tingling sensation in the face, arms or legs - Inability to move or weakness on one side of the body - Vision disruptions - Speech problems - Inability to understand speech - Nausea - Pain - Dizziness - Severe Headache

If you believe someone around you is experiencing these symptoms call 011 and seek the help of medical professionals immediately.

Risks for Stroke:

- Age: At age 55 the risk of stroke doubles every ten years after - Race - Gender: Typically, women are less likely to experience a stroke than men - Previous stroke - Fractures resulting in a fat embolism - Family History - Atrial Fibrillation

Reducing your risks:

Take all medications prescribed by your physician. Monitor blood pressure. Lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Quit Smoking. Eat a healthy diet. Get plenty of exercise.

Diagnosis is determined via CT, MRI, or angiogram. These tests help to determine what type of stroke has occurred, its location, and the extent of damage caused.

For more sever forms of stroke such as ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, surgical intervention may be required. However, there are medications available for milder case, but they must be given within hours of experiencing a stroke.

After Care:

Recovery after a stroke may take a few days to over a year to complete. In many cases, occupational, physical and speech therapy may be required.

Medications:

Thrombolytics - Clot busters that loosen or break up blood clots. The debris is cleaned up by phagocytic cells. Antiplatelet - Prevents platelet s from sticking together, thus preventing clot formation. Anticoagulants - Stops clots from forming, particularly those with A-fib who are prone to blood clots due to the rapid contractions of the atria of the heart.

If you have other chronic diseases present such as diabetes or hypertension, keeping these values in the normal range will help to prevent, or lessen the likelihood of a stroke event.

Having an exercise regimen at least three days a week can lower blood pressure. Blood pressure is the number one factor in bringing on a stroke or hemorrhagic strokes.

Fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats and whole grains and nuts are all part of a healthy diet. Implementing this healthy way of eating is another great step in lowering your risk factors for stroke.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 4th, 2009 at 11:34 pm and is filed under Diseases & Illness. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.