Stroke, also known as cerebrovascular accident (CVA), cerebrovascular
insult (CVI), or brain attack, is when poor blood flow to the brain results in
cell death. There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, due to lack of blood
flow, and hemorrhagic, due to bleeding.
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to
the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts (or ruptures).When that happens,
part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it and brain cells
die. Signs and symptoms of a stroke may include an inability to move or feel on
one side of the body, problems understanding or speaking, feeling like the
world is spinning, or loss of vision to one side among others. The main risk factor
for stroke is high blood pressure. Other risk factors include tobacco smoking,
obesity, high blood cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, previous TIA, and atrial fibrillation.
Effect of stroke
If the stroke occurs in the left
side of the brain, the right side of the body will be affected, producing some
or all of the following: Paralysis on the right side of the body
Speech/language problems Slow, cautious behavioral style
Memory loss.
If the stroke occurs in the brain's
right side, the left side of the body (and the left side of the face) will be
affected, which could produce any or all of the following: Paralysis on the
left side of the body
Vision problems
Quick, inquisitive behavioral style.
Memory loss.
Prevention
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.
Source;wikipedia
