Disease Insights: stroke
Welcome to the ultimate guide on . Here, you'll find answers to the most common questions to help you or your loved ones understand and manage this condition better.
Sorry, we couldn't find any description for .
Sorry, we couldn't find any symptoms information for .
Sorry, we couldn't find any precautions for .
Questions Covered:
- what is stroke?
- What are the usual symptoms of stroke?
- causes of stroke?
- What are the potential risk factors associated with stroke?
- What are the possible complications that could arise from stroke?
- What are the ways to prevent stroke?
- How do doctors usually figure out if someone has stroke, diagnosis?
- How do doctors usually treat stroke?
Answers:
Question: what is stroke?
Recognizing stroke symptoms and seeking treatment quickly can lead to a better outcome. Symptoms can come on without warning and may include facial drooping, weakness or paralysis, and slurred speech.
Question: What are the usual symptoms of stroke?
The loss of blood flow to the brain damages tissues within the brain. Symptoms of a stroke show up in the body parts controlled by the damaged areas of the brain.
The sooner a person having a stroke gets care, the better their outcome is likely to be. For this reason, it's helpful to know the signs of a stroke so you can act quickly. Stroke symptoms can include:
paralysis
numbness or weakness in the arm, face, and leg, especially on one side of the body
trouble speaking or understanding others
slurred speech
confusion, disorientation, or lack of responsiveness
sudden behavioral changes, especially increased agitation
vision problems, such as trouble seeing in one or both eyes with vision blackened or blurred, or double vision
trouble walking
loss of balance or coordination
dizziness
severe, sudden headache with an unknown cause
seizures
nausea or vomiting
A stroke requires immediate medical attention. If you think you or someone else is having a stroke, call 911 or local emergency services right away. Prompt treatment is key to preventing the following outcomes:
brain damage
long-term disability
death
It's better to be overly cautious when dealing with a stroke, so don't be afraid to get emergency medical help if you think you recognize the signs of a stroke.
Question: causes of stroke?
The cause of a stroke depends on the type of stroke. Strokes fall into three main categories:
transient ischemic attack (TIA)
ischemic stroke
hemorrhagic stroke
Illustration by Bailey Mariner
These categories can be further broken down into other types of strokes, including:
embolic stroke
thrombotic stroke
intracerebral stroke
subarachnoid stroke
The type of stroke you have affects your treatment and recovery process.
Ischemic stroke
During an ischemic stroke, the arteries supplying blood to the brain narrow or become blocked. Blood clots or severely reduced blow flow to the brain causes these blockages. Pieces of plaque breaking off and blocking a blood vessel can also cause them.
There are two types of blockages
that can lead to ischemic stroke: a cerebral embolism and cerebral thrombosis.
A cerebral embolism (often referred to as embolic stroke) occurs when a blood clot forms in another part of the body ' often the heart or arteries in the upper chest and neck ' and moves through the bloodstream until it hits an artery too narrow to let it pass.
The clot gets stuck, and stops the flow of blood and causes a stroke.
Cerebral thrombosis (often referred to as thrombotic stoke) occurs when a blood clot develops at the fatty plaque within the blood vessel.
According to the CDC, 87 percent
of strokes are ischemic strokes.
Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
A transient ischemic attack, often called a TIA or ministroke, occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked temporarily.
Symptoms are similar to those of a full stroke. However, they're typically temporary and disappear after a few minutes or hours, when the blockage moves and blood flow is restored.
A blood clot usually causes a TIA. While it's not technically categorized as a full stroke, a TIA serves as a warning that an actual stroke may happen. Because of this, it's best not to ignore it. Seek the same treatment you would for a major stroke and get emergency medical help.
According to the CDC
, more than one-third of people who experience a TIA and don't get treatment have a major stroke within a year. Up to 10 to 15 percent of people who experience a TIA have a major stroke within 3 months.
Hemorrhagic stroke
A hemorrhagic stroke happens when an artery in the brain breaks open or leaks blood. The blood from that artery creates excess pressure in the skull and swells the brain, damaging brain cells and tissues.
The two types of hemorrhagic strokes are intracerebral and subarachnoid:
An intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke is the most common type of hemorrhagic stroke. It happens when the tissues surrounding the brain fill with blood after an artery bursts.
A subarachnoid hemorrhagic stroke is less common. It causes bleeding in the area between the brain and the tissues that cover it.
According to the American Heart Association, about 13 percent
of strokes are hemorrhagic.
Question: What are the potential risk factors associated with stroke?
Certain risk factors make you more susceptible to stroke. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
, risk factors for stroke include:
Diet
An unbalanced diet can increase the risk of stroke. This type of diet is high in:
salt
saturated fats
trans fats
cholesterol
Inactivity
Inactivity, or lack of exercise, can also raise the risk of stroke.
Regular exercise has a number of health benefits. The CDC recommends that adults get at least 2.5 hours
of aerobic exercise every week. This can mean simply a brisk walk a few times a week.
Heavy alcohol use
The risk of stroke also increases with heavy alcohol use.
If you drink, drink in moderation. This means no more than one drink a day for women, and no more than two drinks a day for men.
Heavy alcohol use can raise blood pressure levels. It can also raise triglyceride levels, which can cause atherosclerosis. This is plaque buildup in the arteries that narrows blood vessels.
Tobacco use
Using tobacco in any form also raises the risk of stroke, since it can damage the blood vessels and heart. Nicotine also raises blood pressure.
Personal background
There are some risk factors for stroke you can't control, such as:
Family history. Stroke risk is higher in some families because of genetic health factors, such as high blood pressure.
Sex. According to the CDC
, while both women and men can have strokes, they're more common in women than in men in all age groups.
Age. The older you are, the more likely you are to have a stroke.
Race and ethnicity. African Americans, Alaska Natives, and American Indians are more likely to have a stroke than other racial groups.
Health history
Certain medical conditions are linked to stroke risk. These include:
a previous stroke or TIA
high blood pressure
high cholesterol
carrying too much excess weight
heart disorders, such as coronary artery disease
heart valve defects
enlarged heart chambers and irregular heartbeats
sickle cell disease
diabetes
blood clotting disorder
patent foramen ovale (PFO)
To find out about your specific risk factors for stroke, talk with your doctor.
Question: What are the possible complications that could arise from stroke?
The complications after stroke
can vary. They may occur because of either a direct injury to the brain during the stroke, or because abilities have been permanently affected.
Some of these complications include:
seizures
loss of bladder and bowel control
cognitive impairment, including dementia
reduced mobility, range of motion, or ability to control certain muscle movements
depression
mood or emotional changes
shoulder pain
bed sores
sensory or sensation changes
These complications can be managed by methods such as:
medication
physical therapy
counseling
Certain complications may even be reserved.
Question: What are the ways to prevent stroke?
Lifestyle changes can't prevent all strokes. But many of these changes can make a radical difference when it comes to lowering your risk of stroke.
These changes include the following:
Quit smoking. If you smoke, quitting now will lower your risk of stroke. You can reach out to your doctor to create a quit plan.
Limit alcohol use. Heavy alcohol consumption can raise your blood pressure, which in turn raises the risk of stroke. If reducing your intake is difficult, reach out to your doctor for help.
Keep a moderate weight. Overweight and obesity increases the risk of stroke. To help manage your weight, eat a balanced diet and stay physically active more often than not. Both steps can also reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Get regular checkups. Talk with your doctor about how often to get a checkup for blood pressure, cholesterol, and any conditions you may have. They can also support you in making these lifestyle changes and offer guidance.
Taking all these measures will help put you in better shape to prevent stroke.
If you need help finding a primary care doctor, then check out our FindCare tool here.
Question: How do doctors usually figure out if someone has stroke, diagnosis?
Your doctor will ask you or a family member about your symptoms and what you were doing when they arose. They'll take your medical history to find out your stroke risk factors. They'll also:
ask what medications you take
check your blood pressure
listen to your heart
You'll also have a physical exam, during which your doctor will evaluate you for:
balance
coordination
weakness
numbness in your arms, face, or legs
signs of confusion
vision issues
Your doctor will then do certain tests to help confirm a stroke diagnosis. These tests can help them determine whether you had a stroke and, if so:
what may have caused it
what part of the brain is affected
whether you have bleeding in the brain
Question:
Your doctor may order various tests to further help them determine whether you've had a stroke, or to rule out another condition. These tests include:
Blood tests
Your doctor might draw blood for several blood tests. Blood tests can determine:
blood sugar levels
whether you have an infection
platelet counts
how fast your blood clots
cholesterol levels
MRI and CT scan
Your doctor may order may an MRI scan, CT scan, or both.
An MRI can help see whether any brain tissue or brain cells have been damaged.
A CT scan can provide a detailed and clear picture of your brain, which can show any bleeding or damage. It may also show other brain conditions that could be causing your symptoms.
EKG
An electrocardiogram (EKG) is a simple test that records the electrical activity in the heart, measuring its rhythm and recording how fast it beats.
An EKG can determine whether you have any heart conditions that may have led to a stroke, such as a prior heart attack or atrial fibrillation.
Cerebral angiogram
A cerebral angiogram offers a detailed look at the arteries in your neck and brain. The test can show blockages or clots that may have caused symptoms.
Carotid ultrasound
A carotid ultrasound, also called a carotid duplex scan, can show fatty deposits (plaque) in your carotid arteries, which supply the blood to your face, neck, and brain.
It can also show whether your carotid arteries have been narrowed or blocked.
Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram can find sources of clots in your heart. These clots may have traveled to your brain and caused a stroke.
Question: How do doctors usually treat stroke?
Proper medical evaluation and prompt treatment are vital to recovering from a stroke. According to the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, 'Time lost is brain lost.'
Call 911 or local emergency services as soon as you realize you may be having a stroke, or if you suspect someone else is having a stroke.
Treatment for stroke depends on the type of stroke:
Ischemic stroke and TIA
Since a blood clot or blockage in the brain causes these stroke types, they're largely treated with similar techniques. They can include:
Clot-breaking drugs
Thrombolytic drugs can break up blood clots in your brain's arteries, which will stop the stroke and reduce damage to the brain.
One such drug, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), or Alteplase IV r-tPA, is considered the gold standard
in ischemic stroke treatment.
This drug works by dissolving blood clots quickly.
People who receive a tPA injection are more likely to recover from a stroke and less likely to have any lasting disability as a result of the stroke.
Mechanical thrombectomy
During this procedure, a doctor inserts a catheter into a large blood vessel inside your head. They then use a device to pull the clot out of the vessel. This surgery is most successful if it's performed 6 to 24 hours
after the stroke begins.
Stents
If a doctor finds where artery walls have weakened, they may perform a procedure to inflate the narrowed artery and support the walls of the artery with a stent.
Surgery
In the rare instances that other treatments don't work, surgery can remove a blood clot and plaques from your arteries.
This surgery may be done with a catheter. If the clot is especially large, a surgeon may open an artery to remove the blockage.
Hemorrhagic stroke
Strokes caused by bleeds or leaks in the brain require different treatment strategies. Treatments for hemorrhagic stroke include:
Medications
Unlike with an ischemic stroke, if you're having a hemorrhagic stroke, the treatment goal is to make your blood clot. Therefore, you may be given medication to counteract any blood thinners you take.
You may also be prescribed drugs that can:
reduce blood pressure
lower the pressure in your brain
prevent seizures
prevent blood vessel constriction
Coiling
During this procedure, your doctor guides a long tube to the area of hemorrhage or weakened blood vessel. They then install a coil-like device in the area where the artery wall is weak. This blocks blood flow to the area, reducing bleeding.
Clamping
During imaging tests, your doctor may discover an aneurysm that hasn't started bleeding yet or has stopped.
To prevent additional bleeding, a surgeon may place a tiny clamp at the base of the aneurysm. This cuts off blood supply and prevents a possible broken blood vessel or new bleeding.
Surgery
If your doctor sees that an aneurysm has burst, they may do surgery to clip the aneurysm and prevent additional bleeding. Likewise, a craniotomy may be needed to relieve the pressure on the brain after a large stroke.
In addition to emergency treatment, your healthcare team will advise you on ways to prevent future strokes.
Useful Articles on
No articles found on .