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Stroke
What is a Stroke?
A stroke (also called a
cerebral vascular accident or CVA) occurs when the oxygen carrying blood
supply to the brain is interrupted and brain tissue is damaged. Strokes are
caused by blood clots, ruptures, or bulges (known as aneurisms) in blood
vessels. Brain cells must have a continuous supply of oxygen and other
nutrients from the blood in order to function.
Different Types of Stroke
There are four different
types of stroke. Thrombotic stroke is the most common type of stroke.
In this type of stroke, a blood clot (thrombus) forms inside an artery in the
brain, blocking blood flow. Embolic stroke (or cerebral embolism) is
also caused by a clot that originates somewhere other than the brain. Stroke
occurs when a piece of clot breaks loose and is carried by the blood stream to
the brain. As it travels into smaller vessels, it reaches a point where it can
no longer travel and blocks the vessel, cutting off the blood supply. Hemorrhagic
stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures, spilling blood into
the brain or area surrounding the brain. When this occurs, the cells that are
nourished by the ruptured vessel fail to get their normal oxygen supply and
cease to function properly. These types of strokes are frequently caused by
the bursting of an aneurysm (an abnormal bulging of a blood vessel in
the brain).
Who is at Risk for Stroke?
You are at risk for stroke
if you have any of the following conditions or behaviors:
Warning Signs of Stroke
In addition to certain
signs that indicate you are at risk for stroke, there are certain symptoms
that may indicate impending stroke. They are:
-
Sudden weakness,
numbness, or paralysis of the face, arm, or leg
-
Loss of speech or
trouble talking or understanding language
-
Sudden loss of vision,
particularly in only one eye
-
Sudden, severe headache
with no apparent cause
-
Unexplained dizziness,
loss of balance or coordination
About one-third of all
strokes are preceded by one or more "mini-strokes," known as
transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). Symptoms of TIAs occur rapidly and last a
relatively short time. Because TIAs are temporary and the body soon returns to
normal, it is easy to ignore them. However, it is dangerous to ignore TIAs
because the underlying cause of the TIA continues to exist.
Understanding Stroke Once it
Has Occurred
Different areas of the
brain control different functions. When certain brain cells are not able to
function due to stroke, the parts of the body controlled by those brain cells
are unable to function. If the stroke occurs in the left hemisphere or left
side of the brain, the right side of the body will be affected. For 95 percent
of people, the left hemisphere controls the speech and language centers. Those
affected may experience right-sided paralysis or weakness, and a condition
known as aphasia. Aphasic persons may understand what is heard, but be unable
to find the right words to speak or write. They may have difficulty
"decoding" both the written and spoken word and may only understand
hand gestures.
The right hemisphere
receives and interprets sensory information. It is thought to be the artistic
or creative center of the brain. Those affected may experience left-sided
weakness or paralysis, and spatial or perceptual deficits. This involves
problems perceiving distances, sizes, forms, and how parts relate to whole
objects. Persons affected may have problems climbing stairs, reaching for an
object, or doing self-care chores. Other stroke-related problems may involve
behavior changes. Strokes can cause personality changes: A quiet person may
become loud and boisterous, a person who is normally calm might become easily
upset and swear inappropriately, a person might lose control of his or her
ability to control emotions and laugh or cry at inappropriate times and may be
embarrassed by this inability to maintain control.
How Do You Reduce Your Risk?
There are many steps that
you can take to reduce your risk of stroke. Most of these steps relate to
cardiovascular fitness. You can begin by getting regular medical checkups.
Control your blood pressure by seeking treatment for your hypertension. This
can involve eating a low-sodium diet, weight control, stress management,
and/or medication. Stopping smoking results in a dramatic decline in risk
within a few years of stopping. Seek treatment for heart disease which may
involve conditions such as irregular heart rhythms, heart attacks, or heart
valve disorders. Improve your diet by avoiding excess fat and sodium and by
limiting your alcohol intake. Maintain a healthy weight and exercise
regularly. Good control of diabetes appears to reduce cardiovascular
complications of the disease which can increase your risk for stroke. Stress
can contribute to high blood pressure which in turn can lead to stroke.
Incorporate effective stress management techniques such as relaxation
techniques, exercise, and counseling in order to reduce this risk factor.
While you have no control over other risk factors such as age, gender, or
family history, you can decrease your risk by incorporating the other
preventive measures into your lifestyle.
While you have no
control over risk factors such as age, gender, or family history, there are many
steps that you can take to reduce your risk of stroke.
References
Tong, David, MD,
"Stanford Stroke Awareness," Stanford Medical Center.
Physicians Health Services,
Inc., www.phshmo.com
Extracted from: DRIVE:
Transporting Older and Disabled Passengers, a training program developed by the
Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging in cooperation with the Ohio Association of
Area Agencies on Aging and the Ohio Department of Aging.
Ohio State University Fact
Sheet
Adapted by: Terri Tallman,
Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging, Inc.
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