Brain Attack…Causes, Symptoms and Management Stroke
Stroke is a metabolism syndrome whereby there is sudden death of the brain cells. It's commonly referred to as brain attack. The collapse of the brain cells is due to being deprived of nutrients and oxygen. Cells are units of life and must be feed. It's in the cells where metabolic activities take place. Food substances in form of nutrients are absorbed and wastes or toxins are released from the cells through the semi-permeable layer. Stroke is caused by a blockage of an artery feeding the brain with blood. The blockage may be caused by a blood clot (thrombosis).
It may also be caused by a blood clot occurring in other parts of the body and especially the heart chambers and it is transported by the blood to block an artery supplying blood to the brain. This is called embolism. There may be cholesterol and calcium plaques that may break off from the walls of the blood vessels and are dislodged to block an artery, capillary, micro-capillary that feed the brain with blood. This way the brain cells are deprived of food and oxygen and die off.
Cerebral hemorrhage may also cause brain attack when blood vessel raptures and spills blood. The brain cells do not get enough nutrients and oxygen and thus collapse. At the same time the blood spilled may cause irritation and inflammation of the brain tissue. When the inflammation occurs this constricts on the blood capillaries and micro capillaries causing a deprivation of food to the cells. The swelling of the brain tissue is medically termed as vasculitis.
The symptoms of stroke include; numbness, sudden severe headache and visual impairment. They also entail weakness of the face, arm, and leg on one side. There is a tingling sensation in the affected tissue. There is loss of balance and coordination and this is demonstrated by trouble in walking. A feeling of dizziness is also experienced. Confusion and trouble in speaking may be noticed.
Strokes are life threatening and require immediate medical, attention. However, it is necessary to note that mini-strokes also referred to as Transient Ischemic Attacks may present themselves like stroke. These usually last for a few hours and the blockage opens up allowing blood to flow normally. In order to establish if a patient is suffering from stroke, it is important to apply a simple test referred to as Cincinnati Pre-hospital Stroke Scale (CPSS). It is carried out by a command of the patient to smile, raise both arms, or speak simple sentence. Any trouble in any one of these should prompt an emergency. This test can even be performed at home.
There are risk factors that are associated with stroke and these include; old age, obesity, smoking, Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), and high blood pressure. The old age is faced with blood viscosity complication and this may contribute to stroke. Smoking usually hardens the blood vessels and when blood clot passes the region of the vessel which is hard, it may be trapped and block the flow of blood to the brain.
LDL are cholesterol that are easily spilled out from the blood and attach themselves to the walls of the blood vessels. This may also easily trap other plaques such as calcium deposits hence blocking the vessels feeding the brain. The medication of stroke should be aimed at clearing off the embolism or blood clot (thrombosis). Aspirin is used as one of the anti-thrombosis substances. Patients suspected of brain attack should be laid flat to improve blood circulation to the brain.
It may also be caused by a blood clot occurring in other parts of the body and especially the heart chambers and it is transported by the blood to block an artery supplying blood to the brain. This is called embolism. There may be cholesterol and calcium plaques that may break off from the walls of the blood vessels and are dislodged to block an artery, capillary, micro-capillary that feed the brain with blood. This way the brain cells are deprived of food and oxygen and die off.
Cerebral hemorrhage may also cause brain attack when blood vessel raptures and spills blood. The brain cells do not get enough nutrients and oxygen and thus collapse. At the same time the blood spilled may cause irritation and inflammation of the brain tissue. When the inflammation occurs this constricts on the blood capillaries and micro capillaries causing a deprivation of food to the cells. The swelling of the brain tissue is medically termed as vasculitis.
The symptoms of stroke include; numbness, sudden severe headache and visual impairment. They also entail weakness of the face, arm, and leg on one side. There is a tingling sensation in the affected tissue. There is loss of balance and coordination and this is demonstrated by trouble in walking. A feeling of dizziness is also experienced. Confusion and trouble in speaking may be noticed.
Strokes are life threatening and require immediate medical, attention. However, it is necessary to note that mini-strokes also referred to as Transient Ischemic Attacks may present themselves like stroke. These usually last for a few hours and the blockage opens up allowing blood to flow normally. In order to establish if a patient is suffering from stroke, it is important to apply a simple test referred to as Cincinnati Pre-hospital Stroke Scale (CPSS). It is carried out by a command of the patient to smile, raise both arms, or speak simple sentence. Any trouble in any one of these should prompt an emergency. This test can even be performed at home.
There are risk factors that are associated with stroke and these include; old age, obesity, smoking, Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), and high blood pressure. The old age is faced with blood viscosity complication and this may contribute to stroke. Smoking usually hardens the blood vessels and when blood clot passes the region of the vessel which is hard, it may be trapped and block the flow of blood to the brain.
LDL are cholesterol that are easily spilled out from the blood and attach themselves to the walls of the blood vessels. This may also easily trap other plaques such as calcium deposits hence blocking the vessels feeding the brain. The medication of stroke should be aimed at clearing off the embolism or blood clot (thrombosis). Aspirin is used as one of the anti-thrombosis substances. Patients suspected of brain attack should be laid flat to improve blood circulation to the brain.
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