Strokes: Symptoms and Treatment

There is much ignorance about strokes as it is treated as an orphan disease compared to a heart attack which is much more hyped. A stroke is generally an outcome of a series of circumstances that can be within our control.

A sudden interruption of blood supply to the brain is the main cause for a stroke. In other words you can call it a “brain attack” .A stroke is generally caused by a sudden stoppage of oxygen, blood supply and glucose to the brain. A Stroke may damage some parts temporarily or permanently. While 10%of stroke survivors recover completely, 25% recover with minor impairments and 50 %have moderate to severe impairments.

The various medical reasons responsible for strokes are as follows:

1. A blood vessel or artery gets clotted in the brain which is the cause of more than 80% of the cases. This is known as an ischemic attack.
2. There is another cause for a stroke called as a hemorrhagic attack. In hemorrhagic attack the blood vessels get shattered leading to an interruption of a blood flow to an area of the brain. Within a few minutes the brain cells get shriveled up which releases chemicals setting off a chain reaction that causes ischemic attack. Thus it reaches out neighboring brain cells and if there is no prompt medical action taken the penumbra or the surrounding areas of the brain cells will die resulting in the loss of ability to read, write and view. There is also a danger of a partial or a complete paralysis that can be caused if the right or left side of the brain is damaged.

Risk Factors in Strokes

The Hereditary Factor

If you have a family history of strokes, probably if your parents or grandparent's had a stroke when they were below 50, there may be a possibility of a mini stroke which may last for a few minutes.

The Diabetic Factor

Diabetes leads to a poor circulation. Also the arterial walls get thick and develop bad LDL cholesterol. When you suffer from a stroke and at that particular moment if your blood sugar is high, you may have a risk of a severe brain damage.

The Heart Factor

A condition called as atrial fibrillation increases your risk for a stroke. The upper two cambers of the heart called atrias beat rapidly and unpredictably sometimes up to 400 times a minute and if untreated it raises the risk of a stroke which clots the blood, blocks an artery causing a stroke.

Symptoms of a Stroke

Let us take a look at some of the symptoms of a stroke:

1. A person can become unstable; can have trouble while walking due to dizziness. He can also have lack of co-ordination while walking.
2. A person can have double visions or blurred visions in one or both eyes
3. A person may not understand certain words or phrases; sudden confusions might overshadow his mind causing a slurred speech
4. A person may suffer from sudden severe headaches without some known cause
5. A person may have sudden weakness or numbness in his face, arm or leg especially on one side of the body
6. Other warning symptoms like palpitations, exhaustion, dizziness, frequent thirsts, fungal infections and frequent urinations are to be taken care of if you are a diabetic person

How to Prevent Strokes

1. Consume Less Alcohol

Too much of alcohol raises the blood fat levels. Consuming too much alcohol has always been associated with strokes. However, a 100 ml glass of wine (or the alcohol equivalent) can protect you from strokes as it is a natural clot buster.

2. Reduce Cholesterol

Too much fat around the stomach and waist stresses the circulatory system and pushes up blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. Cholesterol can be reduced by reducing the fat intake to less than 30% and saturated fat to less than 10%.Eating more fiber rich food such as oats, beans, fruits, whole grains that are virtually fat-free absorbs the cholesterol and stops cholesterol from being absorbed by the body. Fats can be diluted by having complex carbs like whole meal bread, potatoes, rice, and pasta. Even eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as tuna, mackerel, and sardine lowers the risk of blood clotting opens out clogged arteries. Eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids at 2-3 times a week does the trick.

3. Cut Sodium, Go for Potassium

Fast foods, packed with sodium are quite dangerous for the body. Have foods which are less in sodium, instead just go for eating stuffs rich in potassium. Have lots of bananas, oranges tomatoes apricots, almonds sweet potatoes, skimmed milk, carrots which are rich in potassium.

4. No Smoking Please

Cigarettes displaces oxygen from your blood, damages blood vessel walls lowers good HDL,makes the heart beat rapidly and raises blood pressure because they are loaded with toxins .Please quit smoking today even if you have smoked for years.

5. Consider Medication

Under a doctor's supervision have Ramipril, an ace inhibitor which blocks angiosten. Angiosten blocks blood vessels .Even the 109-country HOPE (Heart outcomes prevention Evaluation) study recommends that ACE inhibitors reduce the incidence of heart attacks and strokes by almost 22%.

6. Go for Regular Check-Ups and Cardiograms

If you are below 35 years of age, have a family history of strokes you should go fro a cardiogram once every 2 years. Also you should go for a blood test. A blood sugar test, triglycerides test (12 hour fasting test) and a blood pressure test is a must if you want a secure future.

7. An Aspirin a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

Last but not the least, have a dispersible Aspirin everyday to prevent a stroke.