Have you ever wondered why a stroke is called a stroke? Stroke was previously called apoplexy which comes from the Greek word ‘apoplexia’ meaning ‘being struck down’. The word stroke does live up to its reputation. All of a sudden, the patient can become paralyzed or unconscious and may not be able to get back up. Hence, it is quite necessary to have sufficient knowledge about the warning signs of stroke so that you can be prepared.
Before we discuss about the warning signs of stroke, let’s have a basic understanding of what a stroke is.
What is a stroke?
A stroke is also known as a brain attack. It occurs due to blockage of blood vessels supplying the brain or due to rupture of blood vessels of the brain.
This causes a decrease in blood supply to the brain which leads to decreased supply of oxygen and nutrients. This causes the death of brain cells that are devoid of sufficient oxygen and nutrients.
This makes stroke a medical emergency. Nowadays, stroke is treatable but if there is a delay in treatment, it can lead to disability or even death.
What are the warning signs of stroke?
According to (American) National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, there are about 5 warning signs of stroke that you need to look for. They are:
- numbness or weakness in the face, arms, or legs (especially on one side of the body);
- confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding speech;
- vision disturbances in one or both eyes;
- dizziness, trouble walking, loss of balance or coordination;
- severe headache with no known cause.
Act FAST
Stroke appears all of a sudden which makes it hard to diagnose which by the time it has done its job. Hence, a criterion is established under the acronym FAST which helps to suspect stroke in any individual.
If you see any individual and suspect that he/she might experience a stroke, remember to act FAST. FAST stands for:
F: FACE. Ask the person to smile. Observe if one of the sides of face droops.
A: ARMS. Ask the person to raise both arms. Stroke can cause arm numbness or weakness leading to dropping of arm.
S: SPEECH. Ask the patient to repeat something. Stroke patients will have slurred speeches.
T: TIME. If you come across any signs of stroke in an individual, call the ambulance immediately without delay as stroke can be fatal.
What are the risk factors of a stroke?
Stroke can be caused by a number of risk factors. These are divided into modifiable and non-modifiable factors.
Non-modifiable risk factors are those factors which cannot be modified or controlled. These factors are: –
- Age: People who are aged above 50 years have a higher risk of stroke.
- Race: Black individuals have a higher risk of stroke compared to white individuals.
- Genetic factors: Many genetic disorders such as sickle cell anemia, etc. can increase the chance of having a stroke.
- Gender: At a particular age, men have a higher incidence of stroke compared to women. However, overall, women generally experience more stroke events than men. This is due to the fact that women have increased longevity than men and stroke events increased at a substantial rate in the older age groups.
Modified risk factors are those factors that can be modified or controlled. These factors are as follows: –
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Cigarette smoking
- High cholesterol
- No fruits or vegetables in the diet
- Alcohol
- Obesity
- Lack of physical exercise
- Cardiovascular diseases like atrial fibrillation, peripheral arterial disease, etc.
What are the types of stroke?
There are about 3 main types of stroke. These are:
- Ischemic
- Hemorrhagic
- Transient ischemic
Ischemic stroke
It is the most common type of stroke. More than 80% of all strokes are of this type.
This type of stroke is due to the blockage of blood vessels that supply the brain. The part of the brain that does not receive sufficient blood supply eventually dies due to ischemia. Hence, it is called an ischemic stroke.
Ischemic strokes are divided into 2 types:
- Thrombotic
- Embolic
Thrombotic ischemic stroke occurs due to the formation of a clot inside your brain. The most common cause of thrombotic strokes is Atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition in which there is a buildup of fats, cholesterol, and other substances in the vessel wall that causes obstruction to blood flow.
The clot may also develop from someplace else inside the body and may get dislodged from that place and enter the bloodstream. This clot can enter the blood vessel of the brain and block it. This type of stroke is called Embolic ischemic stroke.
Hemorrhagic stroke
As the name suggests, this type of stroke happens due to rupture or tear in a blood vessel that causes leaking of blood intracerebrally. This blood leaks at high pressure damaging surrounding brain cells leading to stroke.
The most common cause of hemorrhagic stroke is hypertension. Hypertension leads to the weakening of the blood vessel wall which makes it more prone to rupture.
There are 2 main types of hemorrhagic stroke. These are:
- Intracerebral hemorrhage
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
It is also referred as ‘mini-stroke’. It is because this type of stroke is temporary i.e., it may last only for a couple of minutes to few hours.
This occurs due to temporary blockage of blood vessel causing a brief, reversible episode of stroke.
How to reduce the risk for a stroke?
The majority of strokes in the world occur due to the blockage of arteries that supply the brain. And the most common cause that causes blockage is atherosclerosis. As mentioned above, it occurs due to the high amount of cholesterol and fatty acids inside your blood that gets collected and clot the vessel.
Hence, the most efficient way to reduce the risk of stroke is opting for a better healthy lifestyle. This includes:
- Regular exercise
- Eating a proper healthy diet
- Avoid alcohol
- Avoid smoking
- Treat underlying conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, endocarditis, sickle cell disease, etc. These diseases can cause circulatory problems leading to the formation of blood clots that can block the blood vessels of the brain leading to stroke.
- Reduce stress
- Always check for the warning signs of stroke and
- Act FAST
