Stroke
• Definition
· Stroke is caused by an obstruction in blood flow through an artery of the brain resulting in brain damage or impaired brain function such as speech difficulties, weakness, numbness or neglect of an arm or leg.
• Overview
· Every organ in the body relies on a steady flow of blood and any disruption of that flow will cause damage.
· Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States.
· Stroke occurs every 53 seconds in the United States, affecting 600,000 people each year.
• Types
· There are different types of stroke:
· Ischemic Stroke is damage to brain cells due to obstruction of blood flow. This blockage is typically from cholesterol plaques or thrombus (blood clot) in an artery of the brain.
· Common risk factors for this are:
· Hypertension (the disease of high blood pressure)
· Diabetes
· Elevated cholesterol
· Smoking
· Family history of stroke
· Advanced age
· Hemorrhagic stroke is damage to brain cells from a bleeding artery in the brain and the toxic affects to blood on brain cells.
· Common risk factors for this are:
· Trauma (head injury)
· Use of blood thinners (coumadin/warfarin)
• Symptoms
· Stroke symptoms include the sudden onset of:
· Decreased level of consciousness
· Slurred speech
· Weakness of an arm, arm and leg on the same side, facial droop and extremity weakness on the opposite side.
• Complications
· Death occurs in 8% of ischemic strokes and 38% of hemorrhagic strokes within 30 days of onset.
• Treatment
· Stroke treatment depends on cause and modifying risk factors that lead to the stroke.
References
American Heart Association: 2002 Heart and Stroke Facts Statistical Update. Dallas, American Heart Association, 2001
Posted on September 24, 2008
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