What Is Stroke?
Author: K Bakhru
Stroke/apoplexy commonly occurs as a result of disorders of
cerebral/brain circulation, called cerebral vascular accident
(CVA). It results in unconsciousness, paralysis either of a part
or one half of the body (hemiplegia), or loss of speech or
vision or balance of the body. As described earlier, it can be
very senous.
In this condition, there could be either thrombosis (clotting)
or haemorrhage in one 6f the blood vessels of the brain, leading
to the above-stated manifestations. This can be best checked by
the same factors which are required for the prevention of
coronary artery disease. This includes proper control of
diabetes, hypertension, high blood cholesterol, high blood uric
acid, and by taking a proper diet and exercise commensurate with
any of the above disease(s) one is suffering from. In case one
is overweight, reduction in weight is also essential for the
prevention of stroke.
It should be known to all that sometimes there may be even
warning signals before the occurrence of stroke. These are
termed as 'transient ischaemic attacks (TIA)'. In these attacks,
the flow of the blood is momentarily hampered in one of the
blood vessels of the brain, causing transient spells of loss of
vision/speech/paralysis of a part of the body/vertigo, etc.,
depending on the involvement of the vessel of the brain,
supplying a particular part of the brain responsible for the
above transient lesions.
Since the blood supply is only stopped/slowed for a while, the
part of the body involved immediately returns to normal. If such
attacks occur, especially in middle-aged persons, one should
immediately report it to the physician/neurologist for proper
diagnosis and prevention of a possible full-fledged stroke at a
later stage. Such transient attacks may even occur repeatedly,
in some cases, before the person gets a stroke causing complete
paralysis. Once it occurs, i.e. complete paralysis, recovery is
usually incomplete, and if brain haemorrhage occurs, it becomes
a medical surgical emergency.
Hence a stroke should be given weightage comparable to a
coronary artery disease or a heart attack. Both are dangerous
and need equal attention, and they also have common factors for
their prevention. And, if a person seriously controls the
above-stated factors, like diabetes, hypertension, etc., he will
certainly bear the least risk of suffering from these disorders.
Public education in this respect is essential.
Caution: As soon as the stroke occurs, the patient should be
immediately taken to the hospital for advice/treatment, as the
first three hours from the occurrence of stroke are vital for
treatment. In these three hours, is the time taken for
transportation, urgent tests in the hospital, like computed
tomographic (CT) scanning/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), etc.
Therefore, awareness of this limited period should be be known
by all so that not a single minute is wasted in dealing with
this emergency. It should be clearly understood that 'the
therapeutic window' is ideally open in the first three hours
only. It may be added that once a stroke occurs, it is very
difficult to salvage the brain. Hence immediate recognition/
diagnosis of the condition and prompt treatment are very
important. Undoubtedly, prevention is most vital.
About The Author: Author sites: http://www.herbalremedieslk.com
, http://self-health-tips.blogspot.com ,
http://www.e-self-help.com
Author: K Bakhru
Stroke/apoplexy commonly occurs as a result of disorders of
cerebral/brain circulation, called cerebral vascular accident
(CVA). It results in unconsciousness, paralysis either of a part
or one half of the body (hemiplegia), or loss of speech or
vision or balance of the body. As described earlier, it can be
very senous.
In this condition, there could be either thrombosis (clotting)
or haemorrhage in one 6f the blood vessels of the brain, leading
to the above-stated manifestations. This can be best checked by
the same factors which are required for the prevention of
coronary artery disease. This includes proper control of
diabetes, hypertension, high blood cholesterol, high blood uric
acid, and by taking a proper diet and exercise commensurate with
any of the above disease(s) one is suffering from. In case one
is overweight, reduction in weight is also essential for the
prevention of stroke.
It should be known to all that sometimes there may be even
warning signals before the occurrence of stroke. These are
termed as 'transient ischaemic attacks (TIA)'. In these attacks,
the flow of the blood is momentarily hampered in one of the
blood vessels of the brain, causing transient spells of loss of
vision/speech/paralysis of a part of the body/vertigo, etc.,
depending on the involvement of the vessel of the brain,
supplying a particular part of the brain responsible for the
above transient lesions.
Since the blood supply is only stopped/slowed for a while, the
part of the body involved immediately returns to normal. If such
attacks occur, especially in middle-aged persons, one should
immediately report it to the physician/neurologist for proper
diagnosis and prevention of a possible full-fledged stroke at a
later stage. Such transient attacks may even occur repeatedly,
in some cases, before the person gets a stroke causing complete
paralysis. Once it occurs, i.e. complete paralysis, recovery is
usually incomplete, and if brain haemorrhage occurs, it becomes
a medical surgical emergency.
Hence a stroke should be given weightage comparable to a
coronary artery disease or a heart attack. Both are dangerous
and need equal attention, and they also have common factors for
their prevention. And, if a person seriously controls the
above-stated factors, like diabetes, hypertension, etc., he will
certainly bear the least risk of suffering from these disorders.
Public education in this respect is essential.
Caution: As soon as the stroke occurs, the patient should be
immediately taken to the hospital for advice/treatment, as the
first three hours from the occurrence of stroke are vital for
treatment. In these three hours, is the time taken for
transportation, urgent tests in the hospital, like computed
tomographic (CT) scanning/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), etc.
Therefore, awareness of this limited period should be be known
by all so that not a single minute is wasted in dealing with
this emergency. It should be clearly understood that 'the
therapeutic window' is ideally open in the first three hours
only. It may be added that once a stroke occurs, it is very
difficult to salvage the brain. Hence immediate recognition/
diagnosis of the condition and prompt treatment are very
important. Undoubtedly, prevention is most vital.
About The Author: Author sites: http://www.herbalremedieslk.com
, http://self-health-tips.blogspot.com ,
http://www.e-self-help.com
