Frequently Asked Questions …
- What is a stroke?
- How dangerous is stroke?
- What is a "mini-stroke" or TIA?
- What are the warning signs of stroke?
- What are the effects of stroke?
- Where can stroke occur in the brain and how does
this affect the body?
- Who is at risk for stroke?
- How is stroke prevented?
- How is stroke diagnosed?
- How is stroke treated?
- What about stroke rehabilitation?
- What should I do to help a victim of stroke?
- For more information...
A stroke is sometimes called a "brain
attack." A stroke can injure the brain like a heart attack can injure the
heart. Stroke is the result of cerebrovascular disease
- disease of the blood vessels in the brain.
There are two types of stroke:
Ischemic stroke, the most common type of stroke. This type of stroke happens when there is a sudden lack of blood flow to some part of the brain, usually due to a blood clot blocking an artery or blood vessel. Often the artery is already clogged with fatty deposits (atherosclerosis).
Hemorrhagic stroke. Bleeding in the brain from a broken or leaking blood vessel causes this type of stroke. A hemorrhagic stroke may be due to an aneurysm, a thin or weak spot in an artery that balloons out and can burst.
Either type of stroke can cause brain cells to die. This brain damage may cause a person to lose control of certain functions, such as speech, movement, and memory. Like a heart attack, a stroke is an emergency and should be treated as quickly as possible.
Stroke ranks third as the leading cause of death
in the
What is a "mini-stroke" or TIA?
A "mini-stroke" refers to a transient ischemic attack (TIA). In a TIA, there is a short-term reduction in blood flow to the brain. This causes temporary stroke symptoms (often just for a few minutes) such as weakness or tingling in an arm or leg. TIAs don't cause brain damage, but they are important warning signs that a person is at risk of having a stroke. 10 to 15 percent of strokes occur after a TIA. If you have a TIA, you should seek medical care right away to prevent a full stroke.
What are the warning signs of stroke?
Know that not everyone gets all of the following
warning signs of stroke, and sometimes these signs can go away and
return. Treatments are most effective if given within one hour of when
the attack begins. If you have any of these symptoms, call 911 right away!
Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm,
or leg, especially on:
- One side of the body.
- Sudden confusion or trouble
speaking or understanding speech.
- Sudden trouble walking,
dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination.
- Sudden severe headache with
no known cause.
- Sudden loss of vision,
Blurred or double vision, drowsiness, and nausea or vomiting.
What are the effects of stroke?
A person who has a stroke may suffer little or
no brain damage and disability, especially if the stroke is treated promptly.
But stroke can lead to severe brain damage and disability, or even death. The
type of disability caused by a stroke depends on the extent of brain damage and
what part of the brain is damaged.
Stroke may cause paralysis or weakness of one side of the body, memory problems, mood changes, trouble speaking or understanding speech, problems with eating and swallowing, pain, depression, and other problems. Rehabilitation and medical treatment can help a person recover from the effects of stroke and prevent another stroke from occurring.
Where can stroke occur in the brain and how does that affect the body?
The brain is a complex organ. Each area of the
brain is responsible for a particular function or ability. The brain is divided
into four main parts: the right hemisphere, the left
hemisphere, the cerebellum and the brain stem.
A stroke in the right hemisphere of the brain
often causes paralysis in the left side of the body. This is known as left
hemiplegia. In addition, a stroke in this part of the brain may cause:
- Problems with spatial and
perceptual abilities. For example, the stroke survivor may misjudge
distances and fall, or be unable to guide her hands to pick up an object.
- Impaired judgment and
behavior. For example, she may try to do things that she should not
attempt to do, such as trying to drive a car.
- Problems with short-term
memory. Although she may be able to recount events from 30 years ago, she
may be unable to remember what she ate for breakfast that morning.
Someone who has had a left hemisphere stroke may
have right hemiplegia, paralysis of the right side of the body.
He may also have:
- Aphasia-speech and language
problems.
- Slow and cautious behavior,
in contrast to the behavior of a right-hemisphere stroke survivor. He may
need a lot of help to complete tasks.
- Memory problems similar to
those of right-hemisphere stroke survivors. For example, he may have
trouble learning new information and have poor short-term memory.
A stroke that takes place in the cerebellum can
cause:
- Abnormal reflexes of the
head and torso
- Coordination and balance
problems
- Dizziness, nausea and
vomiting.
Strokes that occur in the brain stem are especially devastating. The brain stem is the area of the brain that controls all of our involuntary "life-support" functions, such as breathing rate, blood pressure and heartbeat. The brain stem also controls abilities such as eye movements, hearing, speech and swallowing. Since impulses generated in the brain's hemispheres must travel through the brain stem on their way to the arms and legs, patients with a brain stem stroke may also develop paralysis in one or both sides of the body.
Stroke risks are higher in people who have a family or personal history of stroke and for African Americans. African American people have a higher risk of disability and death from stroke than Caucasian people do. This is partly because more African Americans have high blood pressure, a major stroke risk factor. Males generally experience stroke earlier in life than women, however, women are equally at risk as they grow older. The chance of having a stroke more than doubles for each decade of life after age 55. People who smoke, have excessive alcohol intake (more than two drinks per day), or who have high blood pressure, heart disease, or diabetes are at greater risk of having a stroke. Hormonal changes with pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause are also linked to an increased risk of stroke.
The more stroke risk factors you have, the
greater the chance that you will have a stroke. You can't control some risk
factors, such as aging, family health history, race and gender. But you can
change or treat most other risk factors to lower your risk.
Here are some of the best ways to prevent
stroke:
- Eat a healthy diet low in
saturated fat and rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Don't overeat, and keep your
weight under control.
- Get regular exercise (30
minutes a day, most days of the week, or more).
- Find ways to manage stress
in your life.
- If you have high blood
pressure, take your blood pressure medicine as prescribed by your health
care provider. .
- If your cholesterol level is
too high, talk to your health care provider about ways to lower it.
- If you smoke, stop smoking.
If it is hard to quit on your own, there are products like nicotine
patches, support groups, and programs to help you stop smoking.
- If you have heart disease or
diabetes, take good care of yourself. See your health care provider and
take your medicine as prescribed.
- Get help if you have a TIA
("mini-stroke"). Talk to your health care provider to see if you
need medicine or surgery.
- Aspirin therapy may be
useful, but check with your health care provider before starting to take
aspirin on a daily basis.
Before a stroke can be treated, diagnostic tests must be performed. Health care providers must find out what kind of stroke it is to treat it correctly. A person thought to be having a stroke may have a neurological exam, blood tests and an electrocardiogram.
Other kinds of tests used in diagnosing stroke
include:
· Imaging tests that give a picture of the brain. These include CT (computed tomography) scanning, sometimes called CAT scans, and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scanning. CT scans are particularly useful for determining if a stroke is caused by a blockage or by bleeding in the brain.
· Electrical tests such as EEG (electroencephalogram) and an evoked response test to record the electrical impulses and sensory processes of the brain.
· Blood flow tests, such as Doppler ultrasound tests, to show any changes in the blood flow to the brain.
Strokes caused by blood clots can be treated
with clot-busting drugs such as TPA (tissue plasminogen
activator). TPA must be given within 3 hours of the start of a stroke to be
effective, and tests must be done first. This is why it is so important for a
person having a stroke to get to a hospital fast.
Other medicines are used to treat and to prevent
stroke. Anticoagulants such as Warfarin, and antiplatelet agents such as
aspirin interfere with the blood's ability to clot and can play an important
role in preventing stroke.
Surgery is sometimes used to treat or prevent stroke. For example, carotid endarterectomy is the surgical removal of fatty deposits clogging the carotid artery in the neck that could lead to a stroke. For hemorrhagic stroke, surgical treatment may include placing a metal clip at the base of an aneurysm or removing abnormal blood vessels.
What about stroke rehabilitation?
Rehabilitation is a very important part of
recovery for many stroke survivors. The effects of stroke may mean that you
must change, relearn or redefine how you live. Stroke rehabilitation is
designed to help you return to independent living.
Rehabilitation doesn't reverse the effects of a stroke. Its goals are to build your strength, capability and confidence so you can continue your daily activities despite the effects of your stroke. Rehabilitation services may include:
· Physical therapy: to restore movement, balance and coordination
· Occupational therapy: to relearn basic skills such as bathing and dressing oneself
· Speech therapy: to rehabilitate cognation and language deficit
What should I do to help a victim of stroke?
Activate the Emergency Medical Response System by dialing 911. Try to keep the patient calm and comfortable. Protect the patient's airway – make sure the patient is breathing. Do not allow the patient to eat or drink anything. Stay with the patient until the ambulance arrives. If you witness the patient's stroke, note the time that the symptoms started and be sure to report this, and any medical history you know about the patient to the arriving help.
·
National
Phone Number(s): (800) 352-9424
Internet Address: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
·
National
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Phone Number(s): (301) 592-8573
Internet Address: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/index.htm
·
American
Heart Association
Phone Number(s): (800) 242-8721
Internet Address: http://www.americanheart.org/
·
National
Stroke Association
Phone Number(s): (800) 787-6537
Internet Address: http://www.stroke.org/
·
The
Heart Truth
National Awareness
Campaign for Women about Heart Disease
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Phone Number(s): (800) 793-2665
Internet Address: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/hearttruth/index.htm
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