How to Prevent Stroke: What Causes It? And How To Treat It
A Stroke is an emergency medical situation that can be life-threatening. It occurs when blood supply to a part of your brain is interrupted. This causes brain cells to stop functioning properly, resulting in loss of sight, speech and balance. More than 795k Americans are affected by strokes each year. This makes it the fifth-leading cause of death in America. This is also the leading cause of permanent disability.
Stroke: What does it mean?
Sometimes called "brain attacks", strokes are caused by a blockage or rupture of blood vessels. This causes the brain to lose oxygen and nutrients. Two types of stroke are possible: hemorhagic and ischemic. The former is due to a blocked artery or a blockage.
About 87% of cases are caused by ischemic strokes. These can further be broken down into three types: small vessel obstruction (SVO), large vessel occlusions (LVO), or cardioembolic. Aneurysm ruptures or arteriovenous misformations (AVM) can cause hemorhagic strokes.
Stroke: Common Causes
High blood pressure, high cholesterol, high alcohol intake, high cholesterol, high smoking and Obesity are the most prevalent risk factors for stroke. Your risk can also be increased by lifestyle factors such as poor eating habits, sedentary behaviour, or inactivity. Your risk can be increased by other factors, such as your age, family history and race.
Studies have shown that anxiety and depression may increase the risk of suffering from stroke. In a 2016 study , the Journal of the American Heart Association showed that those with depression were at 40% greater risk of suffering from stroke than people without it.
Treatment for Stroke
The type of stroke and the severity of it will determine the treatment. The treatment of strokes caused by hemorhage is usually done with thrombolytic therapy. This involves intravenous injections of drugs that break down clots, such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). The goal of hemorhagic strokes is to end bleeding and lower brain pressure. It may require medication or surgery.
Rehabilitation therapy may be offered to stroke victims in order for them to regain their lost abilities and skills. Stroke survivors often receive rehabilitation therapy in the form of speech, occupational and physical therapy.
Progress in Stroke Therapy
Modern stroke treatment techniques have allowed us to save many lives and minimize long-term disability. Clot-busting drugs have been proven to dramatically reduce the death and disability rates associated with ischemic stroke. The treatment of hemorhagic stroke has been revolutionized by the advent of minimally invasive techniques such as endovascular coiling and stent retrievers.
Research has also revealed novel ways to treat stroke risk factors. A 2018 study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology showed that people suffering from atrial fibrillation can lower their risk of having a stroke by taking low doses of aspirin daily.
Are Stroke Prevention Options Available?
Lifestyle Changes and management of risk factors can make stroke prevention possible. It is important to live a healthy life. This includes exercising, eating well, not smoking and limiting your alcohol consumption.
You should also manage your hypertension and Diabetes. You can reduce stroke risk by taking the prescribed medications and keeping in touch with your doctor.
It is crucial to recognize the warning signs and get immediate medical attention for stroke. You can quickly get the help you require by recognizing symptoms like sudden weakness or numbness on one side, confusion, or slurred speech.
Conclusion
Stroke can cause death or disability. It is possible to prevent it by making lifestyle changes and managing risk factors. Your risk of suffering from stroke can be significantly reduced by making healthy lifestyle changes such as exercising, eating well, and quitting smoking. You should also be alert for signs and symptoms of stroke, so you can seek medical attention immediately if needed.
We can reduce stroke risk by understanding its causes and treatment. This will help us live healthier and more fulfilled lives. We can fight stroke with the right information and support.