Understanding Strokes: Types, Symptoms, and Prevention

2023-10-29 13:47:00

Rania Amer wrote Sunday, October 29, 2023 03:47 PM

Celebrating World Stroke Day on October 29 of each year, to raise awareness of the danger of this injury on the one hand, and on the other hand to get acquainted with the concept brain attackAnd the factors that increase the risk of developing it, its symptoms, the types of these strokes, and their side effects, and the following report will present all of that, according to neurologists.

What is a stroke?

Dr. Walid Abu Zeid, Professor of Neurology at Sohag Medicine, said in a special statement to “Al-Youm Al-Sabea” that a stroke occurs when blood flow to one part of the brain stops or is obstructed, depriving the brain tissue of the very necessary oxygen and other vital nutritional materials, and as a result Brain cells die within a few minutes, indicating that it is a medical emergency, and immediate treatment is vital and important, as it can reduce damage to the brain and prevent possible complications after a stroke.

Types of stroke

There are two main types of stroke, learn about them:

Ischemic stroke

This type constitutes about 80% of strokes. This stroke occurs when the arteries in the brain become narrow or clogged, causing a significant decrease in the amount of blood supplied to the brain. This prevents the brain from being supplied with oxygen and various nutrients, which leads to the death of brain cells within a few minutes.

The most common types of ischemic stroke are:

Thrombotic stroke

This type of stroke occurs when a thrombus forms in one of the arteries responsible for supplying blood to the brain, and blood clotting usually occurs in areas that have been damaged by atherosclerosis.

Stroke embolic

This type of stroke occurs when a clot or other particle forms inside a blood vessel far from the brain in the area of ​​the heart, and the blood stream sweeps it with it until it settles in a narrow blood vessel in the area of ​​the brain. This type of clot is called an embolus. This condition arises. As a result of heart rhythm disturbances.

Hemorrhagic stroke

This stroke occurs when one of the blood vessels in the brain begins to bleed or rupture. This bleeding may occur as a result of some medical conditions that affect the blood vessels, such as: untreated high blood pressure and aneurysm. Another less common cause of bleeding is a ruptured vessel. Hemangioma, which is an arteriovenous malformation.

There are two types of hemorrhagic stroke

Intracerebral hemorrhage

In this type of stroke, a blood vessel inside the brain bursts, causing blood to flow into the brain tissue around it, causing damage to brain cells. Also, the brain cells behind the leak do not receive a regular supply of blood and are damaged.

Over time, high blood pressure may cause a stroke of this type, and high blood pressure can make the small blood vessels inside the brain more fragile and more susceptible to cracking and tearing.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage

In this type of stroke, bleeding begins in one of the large arteries or in the surface area of ​​the brain, causing blood to flow into the space between the brain and the skull, and is accompanied by a very strong and sudden headache. This type of stroke often results from the rupture or dissection of one or more of the aneurysms that It may form and grow over time, or it may be congenital.

After the bleeding begins, the blood vessels in the brain may expand and narrow in an irregular manner, which may cause damage to the cells due to a further decrease in the blood supply to other parts of the brain.

In the same context, Dr. Khaled Salam, Professor of Neurology at Banha Medicine, explained the symptoms of stroke, which include problems with vision, difficulty speaking, and difficulty walking sometimes.

Symptoms of stroke

1. Trouble speaking and understanding what others are saying. You may feel confused, speak unclear words, or have difficulty understanding speech.

2. Paralysis or numbness in the face, arm, or leg. You may suddenly feel numbness, weakness, or paralysis in the face, arm, or leg. This often occurs on one side of the body. In that case, try raising both of your arms above your head at the same time. One of your arms starts to fall, so you may be having a stroke.

3. Vision problems in one or both eyes. You may suddenly feel blurred vision or black vision in one or both eyes, or you may feel double vision.

4. Sudden and severe headache, which may be accompanied by vomiting, dizziness, or a change in consciousness, may indicate that you are having a stroke.

5. Difficulty walking, you may stumble or lose your balance. You may also feel sudden dizziness or loss of coordination between the limbs.

Factors that increase the risk of stroke

1. High blood pressure.

2. Smoking cigarettes or exposure to passive smoking.

3. High cholesterol level.

4. Diabetes.

5. Obstructive sleep apnea.

6. Cardiovascular disease, including heart failure, heart defects, myocarditis, or arrhythmia, such as atrial fibrillation.

7. A personal or family history of strokes, heart attacks, or transient ischemic attacks.

Dr. Khaled also explained that the age group of 55 years is more at risk of stroke than those who are younger, noting that men are more at risk of stroke than women. Women are usually older when they have strokes, and they are more likely to die from strokes than men.

The consultant added that stroke rates are equal for women and men, but women are more likely than men to die from a stroke, and black-skinned people are more likely to suffer a stroke than people of other ethnic origins.

Stroke complications

Depending on the length of time during which the brain suffered from a lack of blood supply, a stroke can cause a variety of disabilities that may be temporary, or may be permanent, as the possible complications as a result of a stroke vary depending on which part of the brain is affected, and include the following:

1. Paralysis or loss of the ability to move muscles.

2. Difficulties in speaking or swallowing.

3. Memory loss or problems with general understanding.

4. Spreading pain in the body.

5. People who suffer a stroke sometimes become introverted and less able to socialize and participate in social life. They may lose the ability to take care of themselves, and they may need nursing care to help them with daily tasks, such as personal hygiene and others.

Stroke diagnosis

The following tests are the most common screening tests that are able to determine the degree of risk of suffering a stroke, but they can also constitute a diagnostic method if the person has had a stroke:

Physical examination.

Ultrasound imaging (Urtlasound) of the carotid artery.

Arteriography.

Cross-sectional image of Mahosb.

Magnetic resonance imaging.

Echocardiography.

Stroke treatment

Receiving immediate medical assistance immediately after a stroke is vital, and the type of treatment depends on the type of stroke, as follows:

Treatment of ischemic stroke

Doctors should resume blood supply to the brain as quickly as possible. Medications to encourage blood clotting should be given within three hours from the moment the first symptoms of a stroke appear, and prompt treatment not only increases the chances of survival, but can help reduce complications that may result. About stroke.

The treating physician may recommend surgery to open the blocked artery, partially or completely, including:

1. Opening the artery, and installing a flexible mesh stent inside the stenosis.

2. Treatment of hemorrhagic stroke.

Surgery may be helpful in treating a hemorrhagic stroke, or in preventing the next stroke. Sometimes a doctor recommends any of these procedures if a person has a high and increased risk of an aneurysm forming or rupturing a blood vessel, tangling, coiling, or tying an aneurysm, or removing a vessel. Disfigured blood.

Stroke prevention

Doctors advise following all prevention methods to protect against stroke.

Home preventive methods

To prevent stroke, it is recommended to follow a healthy lifestyle that includes:

. Treating high blood pressure.

. Reduce consumption of foods rich in cholesterol and fat.

. Avoid smoking.

. Diabetes treatment.

Maintaining a healthy weight.

. Exercise regularly.

. Treating psychological stress.

. Avoid alcoholic drinks.

. Avoid drugs.

Maintaining a balanced and healthy diet.

2. Prevention with medications

If a person has had a transient ischemic stroke, the doctor may encourage him to take medications to reduce the risk of having a transient ischemic attack, such as aspirin.

If aspirin treatment does not protect against the risk of a transient ischemic attack, or if the person in question is unable to take aspirin, the doctor may prescribe other blood-thinning medications.

Alternative treatments for stroke:

There is no herbal treatment for stroke, but some herbs may reduce blood clotting and coagulation, including:

Turmeric.

Ginger.

Red pepper.

the Garlic.

Cinnamon.

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