Monday

Stroke Prevention: Know What It Is

Cerebrovascular accident or stroke is a clinical condition which is associated with a rapid development of the loss of the functioning of the brain due to disturbances in blood vessels which are responsible for supplying the brain with blood.

This phenomenon may by hemorrhage or ischemia (reduced blood supply) which is a consequence of embolism or thrombosis. In medicine, a fit, faint or stroke is sometimes known by the name of ictus [cerebri], before performing a definitive analysis or diagnosis.

Stroke is the form of a type of medicinal emergency which can cause permanent complications and damage to our nervous system.

If it not diagnosed quickly for the purpose of providing the essential treatment, even death may happen. It is United States’ as well as Europe’s third largest reason behind deaths and adult disabilities.

Stroke will supposedly be the major reason of death all over the world. The risk factors associated with a stroke are:
•    Advanced age.
•    Diabetes.
•    Hypertension.
•    Previous stroke as well as TIA’s.
•    Cigarette smoking.
•    High cholesterol.
•    Migraine.
•    Thrombophilia ( thrombosis-like tendency)
•    Atrial fibrillation

The biggest reason behind stroke is probably blood pressure and it is one of those risk factors which, if desired, can be positively modified too. 

Stroke symptoms usually do not take much time to develop. These symptoms’ development tenure depends upon the damage’s anatomical location. Hence, the severity and nature of these symptoms is found to widely vary.

Diagnosis of the stroke’s anatomical nature by doctors is done depending upon various factors like:
•    Neurological examination.
•    History.
•    Presence of other risk factors.

This diagnosis can be performed even while the stroke’s exact cause is still unknown. 

TIA’s are different from strokes in a way that they get completely resolved within a day whereas strokes do not.

This times frame has been arbitrarily selected in the definition provided by WHO. The severity of strokes can be reduced by the early provision of treatments. Due to this, a number of people now prefer other concepts like brain attack as well as acute cerebrovascular syndrome.

These terms have been formed for giving an idea about the stroke symptoms’ urgency. 

Methods for stroke treatment are:
•    Thrombolysis.
•    Supportive care (occupational therapy and physiotherapy).
•    Secondary prevention through antiplatelet drugs (dipyridamole and aspirin).
•    Statins.
•    Control of blood pressure.

Take proper action for preventing the risk factors and leading a healthy life.

Wednesday

Stroke Prevention: Aspirin Therapy

The Heart Association of America recommends using Aspirin for patients having suffered from myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, unstable angina as well as TIA’s.

Clinical trials have shown that aspirin can be helpful in preventing these events (heart attack, blood clots, second strokes, etc.) from recurring. This is called secondary prevention. Aspirin can also be helpful in primary prevention for preventing these events to take place in people belonging to the high-risk category. 

You should always consult a physician before beginning with your aspirin therapy sessions. The benefits as well as risks of this therapy vary from one individual to another. If the people who are taking aspirin therapy are required to undergo a dental extraction or surgical procedure, they must remember to inform the dentist or surgeon about their aspirin dosage. 

Alcohol and Aspirin:
The Drug and Food administration of the U.S. have clearly given a warning to all the aspirin consuming people that they should stay away from consuming alcohol. Patients suffering from heart diseases must completely discard the intake of alcohol and continue with their aspirin therapy as prescribed by the doctor’s treatment plan which is based on the condition of their heart.

Usage of aspirin should never be stopped without prior consulting with the doctor.

Aspirin Should Be Taken During A Heart Attack Or Stroke:
The most important thing that should be done if you see the warning signs associated with a heart attack is immediately calling on 9-1-1. Don’t take any action prior to making this call. Never resort to taking an aspirin and waiting for the pain to subside.

Calling on 9-1-1 must never be postponed as aspirin will not be treating the heart attack all by itself. Only if the operator attending the 9-1-1 call recommends an aspirin, you should take it.

The operator will ask questions for ensuring whether or not, you are allergic to aspirin. If you are, aspirin consumption can be extremely risky.

Research has shown that early intake of aspirin during heart attacks as well as other treatments provided by the physicians of Emergency Department and EMT’s plays a major role in improving your survival chances. 

Aspirin may not always be advised during strokes as not all of them are caused due to blood clots. Rupturing of blood vessels may also cause strokes. If aspirin is taken during this case, the bleeding might infact become even more severe. 

Hence, consider all these aspects before using an aspirin.

Stroke Prevention: 80% Preventable

Consider these staggering facts. 
1.    It has been estimated that this year, almost 750,000 American citizens will suffer a stroke. Out of these, 160,000 will die.

2.    11% of the people having anemia of the sickle cell type have had a stroke before they reached 20.

3.    African-Africans have a greater stroke risk, almost twice, as compared to Caucasians. 50% of African-American women may die due to a heart disease or stroke this year.

These facts are quite depressing indeed. But, it has been said by National Stroke Society that 80% of these strokes can be prevented. This association says that we can significantly change this situation and almost 600,000 Americans can save themselves from a stroke.

By taking appropriate steps, we can lessen the stroke risks and reduce the damage caused by it to ourselves as well as our community.

Stroke – What Is It?
The word actually refers to a sort of brain attack which hugely affects our brain. This occurs due to cutting off of the supply of oxygen and blood to our brain cells which damages our brain tissue.

Strokes occur when blood vessels or arteries get blocked by blood clots, or plaque build-up, or fatty deposits. Sickle cells are also responsible for this as they have a tendency of sticking together after attaining the sickle shape.

Rupturing of blood vessels and arteries at weak spots over their wall, may also cause a stroke. 

All strokes are different from each other depending upon the brain’s affected area and the length of time for which that area was devoid of oxygen. TIA or mini stroke also causes brief symptoms resembling a stroke for about few minutes or sometimes even 24 hours.

TIA’s are not known to cause any permanent disability or damage but they give serious warning signals regarding a possible stroke in the future. 35% of those people who have experienced a mini stroke have an increased possibility of another stroke. i.e.

•    About 5-14% will experience one more stroke within a year.

•    In the following five years, 42% men out of this and 24% women out of this will experience one more stroke.

But, steps can be taken for preventing a first time stroke as well as the additional ones too. But still, some risk factors like age, gender (men are more vulnerable), family history, and race (African-Americans, Hispanics, Pacific/Asian islanders have greater risk) cannot be controlled.

Nevertheless, always continue with steps which are required for a healthier living.

Friday

Stroke Prevention: Steps To Take

Have a look at these staggering facts. 

•    It has been estimated that this year, almost 750,000 American citizens will suffer a stroke. 160,000 out of these will die.

•    Caucasians are at a lesser risk, almost half, as compared to African-Africans. 50% of African-American women may die due to a heart disease or stroke this year.

•    11% of the people having anemia of the sickle cell type have had a stroke before they reached 20.

These facts are quite depressing indeed. But, it has been said that 80% of these strokes can be prevented. How?

Read on.
•    Visit a qualified medical practitioner for measuring up the 3 important factors related with strokes:
1.    Blood pressure.
2.    Cholesterol.
3.    Blood sugar.
            
Also, ask the physician to check your circulatory system, particularly carotid arteries, and heart. 

•    The blood pressure should be properly maintained. If it increases, the stroke risks also increases by 4-6 times. 120/80 is the safe mark. Take action if it goes above this and if it has reached 140/90, its time for some immediate and serious action.

•    The cholesterol level should be maintained below 200. Take immediate action if it rises above 240.

•    Get yourself checked up for diabetes as it increases the stroke risks and also affects the body’s various organ systems.
•    Seriously alter your eating habits for controlling your weight, especially if it exceeds 30 pounds over the average. This does not refer to dieting. Instead, you should plan your diet so that it includes healthy food only, no junk and oily stuff is allowed.

•    Americans consume only 50% of required fiber intake. Consumption of fibrous food also helps in lowering cholesterol, reducing obesity and controlling diabetes.

•    Drinking good amounts of water is essential for good health. This doesn’t include coffee, coke as well as other artificial beverages as these products may not be necessarily healthy and hence, try avoiding them, if possible.

•    Smoking is an extremely nasty habit. It hugely affects our health in a bad way. Lungs, liver, pulmonary arteries, heart and various other systems of the body are all affected by smoking.

Quitting smoking significantly reduces the stroke risk within a couple of years. Women above the age of 30, who smoke as well as consume birth-control tablets having high estrogen, are at a 22 times higher stroke risk as compared to average non-smokers. Hence, they should immediately quit smoking.

Follow these simple tips for averting strokes.

Thursday

Stroke Prevention: What You Need To Know

A stroke is found to occur due to narrowing of blood vessels, bleeding occurring inside the brain, and blood clots. All these reasons are primarily responsible for blocking the blood flow towards the brain. As the essential nutrients do not get supplied to the brain, the nerve cells of our brain start collapsing away within a span of few minutes.

Consequently, the effects of a stroke can be sensory loss as well as loss of vision, problems with talking and walking, as well as difficulty to think clearly. These stroke effects are often found to be irreversible.

The vulnerability towards a stroke varies from one individual to other. Stroke risk is increased by:
•    Chronic health problems such as diabetes and unfavorable blood.
•    Smoking cigarettes, drinking excessively or being overweight.
•    A stroke history in their family
•    African-American ethnic belonging.

If someone has already suffered a stroke in the past or had a transient ischemic stroke (“mini stroke or TIA), he/she is at the highest risk. A stroke is associated with various warning signals like slurred speech, stumbling, clumsiness, blurred vision, and sudden unexplained tingling or numbness of one side of the body.

How to Prevent?
Experts are of the view that a stroke can also be prevented like a heart attack by quitting smoking, exercising, drinking moderately, and seeking medical intervention which is a must for people belonging to the high-risk category.

Recent studies by AHCPR say that for people having conditions such as carotid artery or atrial fibrillation, medical interventions are available for dramatically lowering the risk of suffering a stroke.

Atrial Fibrillation:
The heart’s upper left compartment of people having atrial fibrillation beats unpredictably and rapidly causing difficulties for the chamber’s blood to get emptied.

This leftover blood may form clots which can travel and reach other body parts, including brain, which results in a stroke. Anticoagulants like warfarin and aspirin are used for preventing the formation of these clots but current studies have found that aspirin is inferior to warfarin in this regard.

Warfarin has the potential of preventing 50% of the annual 80,000 strokes caused due to atrial fibrillation. But, its use is associated with:
•    Increased bleeding risk. Proper dosage and regular blood pressure monitoring will prevent this.
•    Each bleeding complication due to warfarin averts 20 strokes.
•    Refer medical professionals for avoiding drugs like anticonvulsants and antibiotics which interfere with anticoagulation.

Hence, have proper knowledge before taking any medication.

Sunday

The Relevance between Vitamin E and Stroke Prevention

You are getting paranoid each day because as much as you want to believe that you are very much healthy; your body seems to be telling you otherwise. You are already taking it slow and you are gradually quitting on certain vices that you used to enjoy. You love your life and if leading a healthy lifestyle is integral to stroke prevention, then you are willing to do everything to be able to follow such route.
Learning More about Stroke

Before knowing about what you can do to prevent a stroke from happening, it is best that you begin to find out more about this serious medical condition. A stroke can be cause by blood clotting and this can also be due to internal hemorrhage. The first one will limit the blood supply on the brain while the latter will cause leakage of blood.

In the US and in many parts of Europe, this is said to be the leading cause of disability in adults. This is also the number two cause of death of many people from around the world. This kind of condition can happen to just about anyone, no matter what you gender or age is. There are just some people who are at a higher risk of getting this, but you can never be certain that healthy individuals won’t suffer from a stroke. This is the reason why it is essential to find out tips on how you can prevent this from happening while you still can.

When the blood supply on the brain is affected due to stroke, it will not be able to function properly. This may cause half of your body to be paralyzed and you will also find it hard to comprehend and speak out your thoughts. Aside from complications, the condition can cause severe neurological effects and this may also lead to death.

How do you know that you are at a high risk of suffering from stroke? This is one toll that you have to pay for if you are a chain smoker. This can also be due to aging and high blood pressure. You are also prone to this if you have high cholesterol or you have diabetes. If you have already suffered from a stroke before, this doesn’t mean that it will not happen again, so it is best that you do everything that you can to prevent it from happening.

How does Vitamin E Help?

There is a research that was done at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center that found out that the risk if suffering from this condition can be lessened by 50 percent if you regularly take Vitamin E supplement every day.

What is it about this vitamin that helps in the process of stroke prevention? Vitamin E acts as your protection against strokes that are caused by blood clotting. This is also good for your overall health, so the benefits can surpass your original intention.

Aside from Vitamin E, you must make sure that you lead a healthy lifestyle and eat the right foods, especially if you are already at a high risk of acquiring the condition.

Friday

Stroke Prevention: Different Kinds Of Strokes

Ischemic Stroke
It is estimated that roughly 80% of strokes, fall under the category of ischemic stroke. It can happen due to the blockage in the large blood vessels on the brain surface or in smaller blood vessels within the brain. The former is normally referred to as large-vessel infarcts while the latter is called small-vessel infarcts.

Some of the other types of ischemic strokes are embolic infarct, lacunar infarct and thrombotic infarct. Around 30% of ischemic stroke instances are due to infarcts of unknown reasons.

Embolic infarct: It occurs when a blood clot formed in any part of the body is carried through the blood where it gets stuck in the blood vessels thereby hindering the blood supply to the brain, which in turn results in the death of brain tissues.

If the blood clot is formed in the heart it is referred to as cardiac embolism, which is responsible for approximately 20-30% of ischemic strokes.

Thrombotic infarct: If an arterial blood clot is formed, blood supply to the brain will be obstructed causing tissue death, which results in Thrombotic infarct. Roughly about 10-15% of cases fall under this type. It has a slow progression and is mainly caused by the deposition of plaque in the arteries, which is known as atherosclerosis.

Lacunar infarct: Is caused when the blockage in the arteries is due to high blood pressure. Approximately 20% cases are of this type.

A transient ischemic attack (TIA): It is a temporary phase which might cause ischemic stroke in some. In a TIA, though an arterial obstruction is formed in the brain, it gets resolved on its own without any permanent tissue death.

But it is seen that 40% of patients with TIA history will suffer a stroke in future and in 10% cases a TIA was always followed by an ischemic stroke.

Hemorrhagic Stroke
Hemorrhagic strokes occur due to the bleeding caused by the rupture of blood vessels in the brain. As a result of this the oxygen supply to the surrounding tissues are cut off, which in turn results in stroke. It can be life threatening as it severely affects a large portion of the brain.

Intracranial hemorrhages are caused due to the rupture of blood vessels running between the brain and the skull. This is caused by traumatic brain injury (TBI), arteriovenous malformation, aneurysm or due to blood vessel weakness.

Epidural hematoma develops due to blood deposition between the outer membrane and the skull.

Subdural hematoma: develops when blood is deposited between the dura and the middle layer; this condition might worsen due to the shrinkage of brain due to ageing.

Traumatic injuries to the skull might also cause acute subdural hematoma, which can be life threatening.