Stroke
Stroke occurs when the supply of blood to the brain is either interrupted or reduced. When this happens, the brain does not get enough oxygen or nutrients which causes brain cells to die.

Stroke is also more likely to affect people if they are overweight, aged 55 or older, have a personal or family history of stroke, do not exercise much, drink heavily or use illicit drugs.

There are three main kinds of stroke:

1.      Ischemic strokes

2.      Hemorrhagic strokes

3.      Transient ischemic attacks 

Signs and symptoms of stroke

Strokes occur quickly, and as such their symptoms often appear suddenly without warning.

§  Confusion, including trouble with speaking and understanding

§  Headache, possibly with altered consciousness or vomiting

§  Numbness of the face, arm or leg, particularly on one side of the body

§  Trouble with seeing, in one or both eyes

§  Trouble with walking, including dizziness and lack of co-ordination.

Strokes can lead to long-term problems. Patients may also experience the following:

§  Bladder or bowel control problems

§  Depression

§  Pain in the hands and feet that gets worse with movement and temperature changes

§  Paralysis or weakness on one or both sides of the body

§  Trouble controlling or expressing emotions.

How to diagnose a stroke

Strokes occur quickly, so that often a stroke diagnosis will have to be made before an individual can be seen by a doctor.

Both ischemic strokes and hemorrhagic strokes require different kinds of treatment. Unfortunately, it is only possible to be sure of what type of stroke someone has had by giving them a brain scan in a hospital environment.

There are several different types of diagnostic tests that doctors can use in order to pin down precisely what type of stroke has been experienced

1.      Physical examination

2.      Blood tests

3.      CT scan

4.      MRI scan

5.      Carotid ultrasound

6.      Cerebral angiogram

7.      Echocardiogram

How to Prevent a stroke

 

Prevention includes decreasing risk factors as well as possibly aspirin, statins, surgery to open up the arteries to the brain in those with problematic narrowing, and warfarin in those with atrial fibrillation. A stroke often requires emergency care. An  ischemic stroke, if detected within three to four and half hours, may be treatable with a medication that can break down the clot. Aspirin should be used. Some hemorrhagic strokes benefit from surgery. Treatment to try recover lost function is called stroke rehabilitation and ideally takes place in a stroke unit; however, these are not available in much of the world.