Overview

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts (or ruptures).

Symptoms

Numbness or weakness in your face, arm, or leg, especially on one side.Trouble seeing with one or both eyes. Confusion or trouble understanding other people. Difficulty in speaking.

Causes

Caused by atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, and carry the same risk factors as heart attacks (myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease) and peripheral vascular disease. These include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking.

Diagnosis

Head Injury history , Family history of heart disease,, CT scan, MRI, Blood tests.

Prevention

Eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and avoid smoking and drinking too much alcohol.

Treatment

Early treatment with medication like tPA (clot buster) can minimise brain damage. Other treatments focus on limiting complications and preventing additional strokes.

Everyday Life

Activities may be affected by Stroke, resulting from the impact of paralysis, poor coordination, loss of feeling, lack of awareness or neglect of one side of the body, or difficulty initiating a movement or planning a sequence of movements.

Resources

https://www.strokeassociation.org/