Stroke - Facts And Symptoms

Facts

• The loss or alteration of bodily function due to a lack of oxygenated blood supply to one or several parts of the brain is called a stroke.
• Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and a leading cause of long-term major disability around the world.
• Stroke is also known as brain attack.
• Stroke is caused by a lack of blood supply to one or several parts of the brain. The brain needs a constant supply of energy and obtains it from oxygen and nutrients found in the blood. When blood flow from the heart to the brain is restricted or stopped, the brain cells will be permanently damaged and the tissue in the affected region dies.
• There are two main types of stroke : Ischaemic Stroke and Haemorrhagic Stroke.
• Ischaemic stroke is caused by an obstruction in the arteries particularly the carotid arteries in the neck, responsible for bringing blood from the heart to the brain.
• A Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) is a mini stroke that precedes a Ischaemic Stroke. TIA lasts for a few minutes. Most of the TIA symptoms will go away within an hour or may last for up to 24 hours.
• A haemorrhagic stroke occurs when one or more blood vessels within the brain rupture. The spilling of blood into the spaces around the brain cells compresses the other blood vessels and deprives them of oxygen. This type of stroke is more severe as it tends to affect larger areas of the brain.
• The right side of the brain has control over the left side of the body. Therefore when the right side of the brain has a shortage of blood supply, the left side of the body will display the symptoms of a stroke.
• Insulin resistance can progress to diabetes, strokes and heart attacks.
• Sleep apnea, also known as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome or sleep apnea syndrome, is a condition where the snorer stops breathing for 10 to 30 seconds at a time (long enough to deplete oxygen in the blood and brain) before producing loud snorts. This condition may contribute to heart disease, stroke and hypertension.
• High levels of lead have been linked to heart disease and strokes.
• Well-known brands of cold remedies were recalled from store shelves after the FDA warned that they contain a substance called phenylpropanolamine linked to “very rare” cases of stroke.

Symptoms

• Sudden weakness, numbness or tingling in the face, arm or leg, especially on just one side of the body.
• Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes.
• Sudden confusion, loss of speech, difficulty in understanding speech.
• Sudden loss of balance or co-ordination, walking difficulty. Dizziness.
• Sudden severe headache.

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