A stroke occurs when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is blocked by a clot or when that blood vessel "bursts." If deprived of oxygen for even a short period of time, the nerve cells in the brain will start to die from a lack of oxygen. Symptoms of stroke depend upon which area of the brain is affected. Some symptoms of stroke include paralysis, weakness, difficulty speaking or understanding language, vision impairment and sudden severe headache.
Stroke is third leading cause of death in United States, behind high blood pressure and cancer. There are two types of stroke: Ischemic Stroke, which is caused by blood clots that block the artery (this is the most common type of stroke); and Hemorrhagic Stroke, which is caused when a blood vessel ruptures.
There are also "mini-strokes" known as TIA's (transient ischemic attacks). People who have one TIA are likely to have another. TIAs cause brief stroke symptoms that go away after a few minutes or hours. People often ignore these symptoms, but they are an early warning sign and 35 percent of those who experience a TIA will have a full blown stroke if left untreated. TIAs should be taken as seriously as stroke.
More men than women have strokes—although more women die from them. African Americans are at much higher risk for stroke. In part, this is because African Americans are at increased risk for obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes, all of which increase the risk of stroke.
Nearly half of all stroke fatalities occur before emergency medical personnel arrive. 1.1 million Americans live with disabilities caused by a stroke and 600,000 Americans will have a new or recurrent stroke each year—of these, 160,000 will die. Stroke is a medical emergency with a narrow time frame for treatment—people should call 911 immediately.
Why do strokes occur?
Obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol all increase the risk of stroke. These risk factors can be greatly reduced with healthy lifestyles or medication. High blood pressure puts pressure on the arteries, making them more susceptible to rupture and more prone to clot formation, which can block the artery. High cholesterol can lead to blockage in the carotid artery that takes blood from the neck to the brain. A piece of this plaque can break off and travel to the brain, causing a stroke. Obesity can cause high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Untreated atrial fibrillation causes the heart’s upper chamber to beat irregularly, which allows the blood to pool and clot. If a clot breaks off and enters the blood stream to the brain, a stroke can occur.
Many other less common conditions such as blood or blood clotting disorders, structural abnormalities of the heart and abnormalities of heart valves can lead to stroke. Your risk for stroke should be discussed with your doctor.
For more information about Stroke, or to schedule an appointment, please (916) 783-8114 (in Roseville) or (916) 925-9526 (in Sacramento).
