PT. Indosehat Lestari
Stroke
A stroke is a "brain attack". It can happen to anyone at any time. It occurs when blood flow to an area of brain is cut off. When this happens, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and begin to die. When brain cells die during a stroke, abilities controlled by that area of the brain such as memory and muscle control are lost.
How a person is affected by their stroke depends on where the stroke occurs in the brain and how much the brain is damaged. For example, someone who had a small stroke may only have minor problems such as temporary weakness of an arm or leg. People who have larger strokes may be permanently paralyzed on one side of their body or lose their ability to speak. Some people recover completely from strokes, but more than 2/3 of survivors will have some type of disability
Stroke Facts by Number
• Each year nearly 800,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke.
• A stroke happens every 40 seconds.
• Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S.
• Every 4 minutes someone dies from stroke.
• Up to 80 percent of strokes can be prevented.
• Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability in the U.S.
Causes of Stroke
• Ischemic strokes are the most common form of stroke, with around 85% of strokes being of this type. They are caused by the arteries that connect to the brain becoming blocked or narrowed, resulting in ischemia - severely reduced blood flow.
These blockages are often caused by blood clots, which can form either in the arteries connecting to the brain, or further away before being swept through the bloodstream and into narrower arteries within the brain. Clots can be caused by fatty deposits within the arteries called plaque.
• Hemorrhagic strokes are caused by arteries in the brain either leaking blood or bursting open. The hemorrhaged blood puts pressure on brain cells and damages them. Blood vessels can burst or spill blood in the middle of the brain or near the surface of the brain, sending blood into the space between the brain and the skull.
The ruptures can be caused by conditions such as hypertension, trauma, blood-thinning medications and aneurysms (weaknesses in blood vessel walls).
• TIA are different from the aforementioned kinds of stroke because the flow of blood to the brain is only disrupted temporarily for a short time. They are similar to ischemic strokes in that they are often caused by blood clots or other debris.
TIAs should be regarded as medical emergencies just like the other kinds of stroke, even if the blockage of the artery is temporary. They serve as warning signs for future strokes and indicate that there is a partially blocked artery or clot source in the heart.
Factors Regarding Stroke
Lifestyle risk factors :
• Being overweight or obese
• Physical inactivity
• Heavy or binge drinking
• Use of illicit drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamines
Medical risk factors :
• High blood pressure
• Cigarette smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke.
• High cholesterol.
• Diabetes.
• Obstructive sleep apnea — a sleep disorder in which the oxygen level intermittently drops during the night.
• Cardiovascular disease, including heart failure, heart defects, heart infection or abnormal heart rhythm.
Stroke Complications
• Paralysis or loss of muscle movement.
• Difficulty talking or swallowing.
• Memory loss or thinking difficulties.
• Emotional problems.
• Pain.
• Changes in behavior and self-care ability
Identify Stroke Fast
Other Stroke Signs
• Weakness on one side of the body
• Numbness of the face
• Unusual and severe headache
• Vision loss
• Numbness and tingling
• Unsteady walk
http://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/8-things-you-can-do-to-prevent-a-stroke
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/stroke/symptoms-causes/dxc-20117265
How do You Prevent Stroke?
1. Control blood pressure. Maintain a blood pressure of less than 120 (top number) over less than 80 (bottom number). Low salt diet and take medication if it is needed.
2. Lose weight. Obesity, as well as the complications linked to it (including high blood pressure and diabetes), raises your odds of having a stroke.
3. Exercise more. Exercise contributes to losing weight and lowering blood pressure, but it also stands on its own as an independent stroke reducer.
4. Drink alcohol – in moderation.
5. Take a baby aspirin. Aspirin helps by preventing blood clots from forming.
6. Treat atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is a form of irregular heartbeat that causes clots to form in the heart. Those clots can then travel to the brain, producing a stroke.
7. Treat diabetes. Having high blood sugar over time damages blood vessels, making clots more likely to form inside them.
8. Quit smoking. Smoking accelerates clot formation in a couple of different ways