Stroke

What is Stroke?
A stroke is a condition in which the brain cells suddenly die because of a lack of oxygen. The cause of strokes can be by an obstruction in the blood flow, or the rupture of an artery that feeds the brain. The patient may suddenly lose the ability to speak, there may be memory problems, or one side of the body can become paralyzed.

Types of stokes

Ischemic stroke:

Accounts for about three-quarters of all strokes and occurs when a blood clot, or thrombus, forms that block blood flow to part of the brain. If a blood clot forms somewhere in the body and breaks off to become free-floating, it is called an embolus. This wandering clot may be carried through the bloodstream to the brain where it can cause an ischemic stroke.

Hemorrhagic stroke

Occurs when a blood vessel on the brain’s surface ruptures and fills the space between the brain and skull with blood or when a defective artery in the brain bursts and fills the surrounding tissue with blood.

Cause of strokes

High Blood Pressure: It is the biggest cause of strokes also called hypertension, if the blood pressure is 140/90or higher. Hypertension promotes atherosclerosis and causes mechanical damage to the walls of blood vessels.

Tobacco: Smoking is linked to build-up of fatty substances in the main neck artery which supplying to the blood to the brain, blockage of this artery leads to the stroke. Nicotine also raises blood pressure and smoking promotes aneurysm formation.

Heart Disease: The main cause of strokes in elderly is irregular heartbeats and build-up of plaque in the inner walls of the arteries. Common heart disorders such as coronary artery diseases, value diseases and irregular heartbeats can results in blood clots that may break loose and block vessels that are leading to the brain. Atrial fibrillation, the main cause of strokes in elderly is irregular heartbeats and build-up of plaque in the inner walls of the arteries

Overweight: As people who are overweight have high blood pressure and high blood pressure is the biggest cause of strokes.

Diabetes: Diabetes causes destructive changes in the blood vessels in the whole body. If the blood glucose levels are high at the time of stroke, then brain damage is more severe.

Symptoms of strokes

Stroke symptoms usually come on suddenly -- in minutes to an hour.
Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg (especially on one side of the body)
Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Severe headache with no known cause

Stroke Treatments

Carotid endarterectomy
In a carotid endarterectomy, a surgeon removes fatty deposits (plaques) from your carotid arteries that run along each side of your neck to your brain. In this procedure, your surgeon makes an incision along the front of your neck, opens your carotid artery, and removes fatty deposits (plaques) that block the carotid artery. Your surgeon then repairs the artery with stitches or a patch made with a vein or artificial material (graft). The procedure may reduce your risk of ischemic stroke.

Angioplasty and Stents:

In angioplasty, a balloon catheter is guided to the area of the blockage or narrowing. When the balloon is inflated, the fatty plaque or blockage is compressed against the artery walls to improve blood flow. A medication such as heparin may be given during the procedure to reduce the risk of blood clots.

Surgical Clip:
A surgeon places a tiny clamp at the base of the aneurysm, to stop blood flow to it. This can keep the aneurysm from bursting, or it can prevent re-bleeding of an aneurysm that has recently haemorrhaged.

Coiling (Endovascular Embolization):
In this procedure, a surgeon inserts a catheter into an artery in your groin and guides it to your brain using X-ray imaging. Your surgeon then guides tiny detachable coils into the aneurysm (aneurysm coiling). The coils fill the aneurysm, which blocks blood flow into the aneurysm and causes the blood to clot.

Surgical AVM (Arteriovenous Malformations) Removal:
Surgeons may remove a smaller AVM (Arteriovenous Malformations) if it’s located in an accessible area of your brain, to eliminate the risk of rupture and lower the risk of hemorrhagic stroke. However, it’s not always possible to remove an AVM (Arteriovenous Malformations) if it’s too large or if it’s located deep within your brain.