Info about Strokes
Stroke
Strokes are the third leading killer in the United States. A stroke can be devastating to individuals and their families, robbing them of their independence. It is the most common cause of adult disability. Each year more than 500,000 Americans have a stroke, with about 145,000 dying from stroke-related causes.
• What is a Stroke?
A stroke, or “brain attack, occurs when blood circulation to the brain fails. Brain cells can die from decreased blood flow and the resulting lack of oxygen. There are two broad categories of stroke: those caused by a blockage of blood flow and those caused by bleeding. While not usually fatal, a blockage of a blood vessel in the brain or neck, called an ischemic stroke, is the most frequent cause of stroke and is responsible for about 80 percent of strokes. These blockages stem from three conditions: the formation of a clot within a blood vessel of the brain or neck, called thrombosis; the movement of a clot from another part of the body such as the heart to the neck or brain, called embolism; or a severe narrowing of an artery in or leading to the brain, called stenosis. Bleeding into the brain or the spaces surrounding the brain causes the second type of stroke, called hemorrhagic stroke.
• Warning signs of stroke
If you think you may be having a stroke, get help at once. The onset of a stroke can be characterized by dizziness, confusion, extreme agitation, bizarre feelings, blindness, sudden loss of memory. slurred speech, a numbing sensation on one side of your body, and more.
Many communities encourage those with strokes warning signs to dial 911 for emergency medical assistance. If you have had a stroke in the past, its important to reduce your risk of a second stroke. Your brain helps you recover from a stroke by drawing on body systems that now must do double duty. That means a second stroke can be twice as bad.
• Diabetes Can Cause Strokes
You may think this disorder affects only the body’s ability to use sugar, or glucose. But it also causes destructive changes in the blood vessels throughout the body, including the brain. Also, if blood glucose levels are high at the time of a stroke, then brain damage is usually more severe and extensive than when blood glucose is well-controlled. Treating diabetes can delay the onset of complications that increase the risk of stroke.
Experts believe Americans should be able to Vevent 80 percent of all strokes before the year 2000.
• Know Your Stroke Risk
Some of the most important risk factors for stroke can be determined during a physical exam at your doctor’s office. Many risk factors for stroke can be managed, some very successfully. Although risk is never zero at any age, by starting early and controlling your risk factors you can lower your risk of death or disability from stroke. With good control, the risk of stroke in most age groups can be kept below that for accidental injury or death.