Stroke is a devastating violation of the normal supply of the brain, which causes the death of brain tissue due to lack of oxygen and essential nutrients. It occurs when the flow of blood to the part of the brain stops or significantly decreases.
After some of the nerve cells die, the body loses one of the functions for which the dead cells responded: paralysis, speech loss and other serious disorders occur. When the vessels are clogged, there is an ischemic stroke, with a rupture - hemorrhagic.
The main method for preventing an ailment is strict control of the main risk factors - high blood pressure, bad habits and high cholesterol in the blood.
Causes of a stroke
The cause of a stroke is a violation of blood flow to some area of the brain due to blockage( stenosis) or rupture of the cerebral artery. More often than not, a stroke occurs in people suffering from problems with the heart or diseases that provoke disorders of the circulatory system.
Almost 90 percent of strokes are ischemic, so the most common cause is cerebral thrombosis( blockage of the artery), such a plaque occurs most often with atherosclerosis. The lack of blood flow deprives brain cells of oxygen and nutrients, cells can begin to die within a few minutes.
In the case of hemorrhagic form, the wall of the defective artery ruptures. It happens much less often than ischemic, but more dangerous. To provoking factors include high blood pressure and weaknesses in the walls of blood vessels( aneurysms).
If to characterize as a whole, the cause of the pathology is damage to the nerve cells located in the brain and controlling all the functions of the human body - all this leads to serious consequences. This ailment is the leader among the causes of human disability and ranks third among the causes of death of the population.
Risk Factors for
Many factors may increase the risk of stroke. Some of these factors also increase the risk of heart disease.
- in a family history of history there is a stroke or myocardial infarction;
- age 55 years and over;
- increased blood pressure, and cholesterol;
- overweight, diabetes, atherosclerosis;
- bad habits - smoking, alcohol.
It is necessary to think about the risk of pathology when one of the above factors is present.
The first signs of a stroke in women and men
Before the onset of a stroke, there are almost always symptoms of a violation of the blood supply to the brain. A harbinger of a stroke may be a transient impairment of cerebral circulation, or a transient ischemic attack.
In women and men, this can be manifested by such signs as - headaches, dizziness, weakness. In the future, nausea and vomiting may occur.
Hemorrhagic - differs from ischemic in that the damage and rupture of the vessel occurs with increased arterial pressure, due to the fact that the wall of the artery in the atherosclerosis of the vessels is unevenly worn. Ischemic is more vile than hemorrhagic, therefore the signs of ischemic stroke are lubricated, grow smoothly or "flicker".
The first signs of a stroke in women :
- suddenly lost vision;
- is a clear violation of coordination;
- withdrawal of forces from the hands, feet;
- loss of understanding of words or ability to speak clearly;
- reduced sensitivity;
- gradual increase in the above characteristics.
Female stroke, which is sometimes unconventional at the onset of the disease, often makes it difficult to diagnose the disease early, which significantly delays the provision of adequate medical care.
Signs of a male stroke :
- severe headache, may be accompanied by vomiting;
- sudden weakness and dizziness;
- difficulty in pronunciation of speech and perception of the environment;
- vision impairment;
- confusion;
If pathology affects a specific part of the brain, then there will be disruptions in the work of that part of the body, for which the affected area was responsible.
Symptoms of a stroke
If you have the following specific symptoms of a stroke, you should urgently call for an ambulance. Also remember when these symptoms started, because their duration may be important for the choice of treatment.
- Asking the person to smile. At a stroke, a smile will be a curve.
- Ask you to hold your hands up, with muscle weakness it can not be done.
- Ask the affected person to say a simple sentence. During the attack, a man or woman will speak slowly, stammering. It's like the speech of a drunk man.
- Ask to stick out the tongue - its tip is deflected toward the hearth in the brain.
Symptoms associated with this symptom include:
- Acute headaches for no apparent reason;
- Visual impairment of one or both eyes;
- Emergence of unexpected weakness;
- Misunderstanding of speech;
- Partial or complete paralysis of the extremities.
Symptoms for a short-term ischemic attack are the same as for a normal stroke, but its duration is only a few minutes.
First aid
Patients with acute impairment of cerebral circulation should be immediately hospitalized in a hospital. Before the arrival of a doctor, you must immediately take independent measures. When stroke is the most expensive are the first minutes and hours of the disease, because it is at this time that medical care can be most effective.
- Lay the patient on a raised platform and lift his head 30 degrees;
- Ensure free access to fresh air;
- Remove clothing to prevent chest movement;
- When vomiting, turn the victim's head to the side so that the vomit does not enter the respiratory tract;
- If the pressure is increased, give the patient the necessary medication, which he usually takes in such cases;
- Call an ambulance urgently.
After this, almost all patients need rehabilitation.
Treatment of
Treatment of stroke is a long process, which consists of a number of medical procedures.
First of all, immediate hospitalization is needed, with the goal of stabilizing the patient's condition. In addition, the patient is assigned oxygen therapy, restorative treatment and rehabilitation with the use of physiotherapy, massage and physiotherapy.
After first-priority measures, stroke treatment is focused on helping the patient recover his strength, function and return to an independent life. For this, there is a special rehabilitation program for people who have suffered a stroke.
Sequelae of stroke
Stroke can lead to prolonged coma, paralysis or paresis( muscular weakness) of the muscles of one side or part of the body, impaired intellect and / or memory.
The most common consequences:
- The most serious complication is paralysis;
- Weakness, stiffness, and muscle pain;
- Violation of coordination;
- Speech disorders such as dysarthria and aphasia;
- The formation of a pressure sore is the process of tissue death in places where the skin is under pressure;
- Problems with attention, perception of information and memory;
- Violation of urodynamics.
The consequences of cerebral circulation disorders can be either temporary or irreversible, in which the final cell death occurs.
Stroke prevention
The main importance for the prevention of pathology is the identification of risk factors, the implementation of the doctor's recommendations and the observance of a healthy lifestyle.
- Regularly measure blood pressure;
- Lowering cholesterol and saturated fat in your diet;
- Compliance with a diet rich in fruits and vegetables;
- Control of diabetes;
- Physical activity and control of own weight.
In addition, for the prevention of stroke, doctors are advised to engage in psycho-regulation, meditation and self-hypnosis, which will avoid stress and depression, and reduce mental pressure.