Stroke

Congestive Heart FailureWhen one of the blood vessels that keep the brain supplied with oxygen gets blocked or bursts, the brain doesn’t get the oxygen it needs to function. Within one minute, nerve cells start dying and, as they die, the brain and body functions they controlled stop working. Although your body replaces dead cells everywhere else in your body, brain cells aren’t replaced, which means that any damage done by a stroke may be permanent.

About

TYPES OF STROKES

Ischemic stroke
Accounts for about 87% all strokes and occurs when a blood clot, or thrombus, forms that blocks blood flow to part of the brain. If a blood clot forms somewhere in the body and breaks off to become free-floating, it is called an embolus. This wandering clot may be carried through the bloodstream to the brain where it can cause ischemic stroke.

Hemorrhagic stroke
Occurs when a blood vessel on the brain’s surface ruptures and fills the space between the brain and skull with blood (subarachnoid hemorrhage) or when a defective artery in the brain bursts and fills the surrounding tissue with blood (cerebral hemorrhage).

Both types of stroke result in a lack of blood flow to the brain and a buildup of blood that puts too much pressure on the brain.

 RISK FACTORS FOR STROKE

STROKE AND SEXUAL HEALTH
A stroke causes many changes in a person’s life. Physical changes to your body occur after a stroke which can impact your sex life, but many couples are able to maintain a healthy sex life. This is important to get back into a normal routine. The need to love and be loved is significant, as is the physical and mental release that sex provides. Couples may experience problems with sexual intercourse after a stroke, as stroke survivors often report a decrease in sexual desire. Men can sometimes present with various levels of impotency. During this time, open communication with your partner, managing depression, controlling pain or incontinence can help you resume a healthy sex life and keep be a positive mental health outlook.

FYI

Although men have a higher risk for stroke,  more women die from it.
 Men generally do not live as long as women, so men are usually younger when they have their strokes and therefore have a higher rate of survival.

Symptoms

Strokes generally don’t give you much advance notice. Symptoms come on suddenly and unexpectedly and they can include:

  • Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
  • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
  • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
  • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
  • Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
  • Women may report unique stroke symptoms.

Prevention

The best way to prevent a stroke is to eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly and controlling your blood pressure. Here are some tips to help you get started.

  • Watch your weight. If you’re overweight, talk to your healthcare provider about the best ways to lose those extra pounds. As your weight increases, so does your blood pressure—and losing weight will have an immediate, positive effect. In addition, if you carry your weight around your middle/abdomen, you have a higher risk of having high blood pressure than if you carry it around the hips and thighs.
  • Get plenty of exercise. Thirty minutes every day is ideal and cuts your risk of developing high blood pressure by 25-50%. And remember, it doesn’t have to be all at the same time. Taking the stairs instead of the elevator, dancing, playing sports, or even doing yard work all count. A minute here, a minute there, and you’re up to 30 before you know it.
  • Cut back on salt and sodium. Read the labels on the products you buy and look for ones that are “sodium free” or “reduced sodium.” And start adding less salt to foods you prepare.
  • Eat right. Get more nuts, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fiber, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products. For protein, go for lean meats, fish, and beans. Cut back on sugar, and stay away from foods that have saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol.
  • Quit smoking. If you don’t smoke but you live in a home where someone else does, encourage him or her to quit.
  • Watch what you drink. You should have no more than 2 alcoholic drinks per day (if you’re not a drinker, don’t start unless your healthcare provider advises you to) and don’t drink more than 2 caffeinated beverages per day.
  • Have regular physical exams. Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all symptoms—even ones that might not seem like they have anything to do with your heart at all. For example, erectile problems and depression can be associated with cardiovascular disease.
  • Get your blood pressure checked regularly. Keep track of how/whether it changes over time. To make sure your blood pressure remains within a safe range, you may need frequent blood pressure readings. Sometimes this can be done with a home blood pressure monitoring device or at your local drug/health store.
  • Relax. Research has shown that petting animals, and even looking at fish in an aquarium lowers blood pressure. Meditation is also successful in reducing blood pressure. Reading is relaxing, so you can also go to your local library and pick up books to read.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing stroke can be done via physical examinations, ultrasounds of the carotid arteries in neck, CT & MRI scans, and EKG among other tests.

Questions to Ask Your Health Care Provider

  • How soon can I expect to recover after my stroke?
  • What foods should I be avoiding or eating more of?
  • Are there any other lifestyle changes I should make? What about physical exercise?
  • Will taking aspirin or a prescription medication to help prevent another stroke?
  • Do I have any other conditions that make having another stroke more likely? What can I do to reduce my risk?

Treatments

If you think you or someone you know may be having a stroke, act F.A.S.T. and do this simple test:

  • F—FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
  • A—ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
  • S—SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is his or her speech slurred or strange?
  • T—TIME: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Remember the damage caused by a stroke is permanent and gets worse with each second. If someone is having a stroke, it is important to get medical treatment ASAP as medication can help to reduce stroke damage.

The outcome after a stroke depends on where the stroke occurs and how much of the brain is affected. Smaller strokes may result in minor problems, such as weakness in an arm or leg. Major strokes may lead to paralysis or death. Many stroke patients are left with weakness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking, incontinence, and bladder problems.

Last modified: June 1, 2014