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A stroke is a quickly developing loss of brain function that is caused by the
blockage of blood to the brain. A stroke can result in permanent neurological
damage or death if the stroke is not reported at once and treated. Stokes are
the third most common cause of death all over the world and here in the United
States it is the leading cause of disabilities in adults. Like heart attacks
there are risk factors for strokes, they are age, hypertension which is another
name for high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, smoking,
migraine with aura and thrombophilia.
You can lower some of these risks but quitting smoking, get on a proper diet
and exercise program in order to lower your cholesterol and high blood pressure.
There are 2 different types of strokes there are Ischemic Stroke which is the
cause of 80 percent of all strokes. This stroke occurs when the blood vessels
are closed and the blood supply to a section of the brain is partially or completely
blocked.
The second type of stroke is called the Hemorrhagic Stroke or a Cerebral Hemorrhage.
This type of stroke happens when the blood vessels in the brain ruptures or
bleeds. The blood irritates blood tissues and it will upset the chemical balance
in the brain.
The signs and symptoms will vary depending on what type of stroke it is. Strokes
affect the Central Nervous Symptoms, Spinothalamic tract , the Corticospinal
tract and the dorsal column. Symptoms may include weakness, numbness throughout
the body and a decrease in sensory or vibratory senses. The symptoms also affect
just once side of the body. If the problem is the right side of the brain then
the left side will become affected by the stroke.
If the stoke does damage the brainstem then you may experience different symptoms
like having your smell, taste and hearing altered, the eyelids may droop to
one side or the eye muscles will become weak. You may experience balance problems,
altered breathing and a quicker heart rate and a weakness in the tongue meaning
it would be hard to move it back and forth or side to side.
If the stroke affects the cerebral cortex the symptoms may include visual field
defects, confusion and hypersexual gestures and paraxial which are voluntary
movements. If the stroke has affected the cerebellum then you may have trouble
waking or vertigo. Physical exams and imaging testing can help diagnosing the
stoke. Once a diagnosis is made then a treatment can be set up.
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