Stroke is scary business, no matter how you slice it. It is America's number one killer and disabler, according to the Internet Stroke Center at Washington University. It effects close to 800,000 people a year, and, in the US, claims a new victim, on average, every 40 seconds.
What Causes a Stroke and Identifying Stroke Symptoms
If you think you or someone you know is having a stroke, call 911 immediately. According the the Mayo Clinic on-line, general symptoms include but are not limited to the following:
- sudden numbness, paralysis, or weakness in your face, arm, or leg, especially on only one side of the body
- new problems with walking or balance
- sudden vision changes
- drooling or slurred speech
- new problems speaking or understanding simple statements, or feeling confused
- a sudden, severe headache that is different from past headaches
The American Stroke Association on-line further defines stroke as "a disease that affects the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain." What this essentially means is that a stroke can occur when a blood vessel either bursts (hemorrhagic stroke) or is clogged by a blood clot or some other mass (ischemic stroke).
When a rupture or blockage occurs, parts of the brain don't get the blood, nutrients, and oxygen they need. Without oxygen, neurons can't work properly and some die within minutes (usually three to four minutes). Others hang on for a time, looking for other jobs to do. But when the neurons die or get disassociated, the part of the body they control looses its connection to the brain. Sometimes it is possible to retrain the brain and regrow neuro-pathways to reform the brain-body connection, but often the devastating effects of a severe stroke are permanent because brain cells cannot be regrown.
How Stroke Affects the Brain and Body
Generally speaking, blood and neurons do not get along well. In fact, free-standing blood in the brain is toxic to neurons, and unfortunately, sometimes spill over into the brain destroying some neurons and disassociating others. Blood, however, is the body's delivery mechanism for oxygen and nutrients, so the brain contains thousands of tiny veins and arteries to feed the neurons as delicately and efficiently as it can.
This is why full recovery from a stroke depends on quick diagnosis, specific and timely treatment, tons of hard work, a good deal of faith, and a little sprinkling of luck. Because retraining the brain is at the basis of any stroke recovery, stroke victims often exhibit infant behaviors in order to relearn what was lost by the destroyed neurons. It is often possible to retrain disassociated neurons and shift the responsibility of dead neurons to different areas of the brain to repair the brain-body connection, as encouraging results show on Jill Bolte Taylor's website and in her book.
Leading Causes and How to Avoid Stroke
But by far the best way to deal with stroke, is never to have one. Stroke is scary business any way you slice it, to be sure, and it is important to know the risk factors. The following risk factors as well as other information can be found at the Internet Stroke Center:
- Previous Stroke: Previous stroke doubles your chances of having another.
- High Blood Pressure: Hypertention is one of the leading risks for heart disease and stroke.
- Diabetes: High blood sugar and other kidney diseases can increase the risk of stroke.
- Heart Disease: Heart beat irregularities (artiral fibrillation), a recent heart attack, or other cardiovascular diseases may increase the risk of stroke.
- Smoking: Tobacco use is the leading preventable risk factor for stroke and heart disease. Even if you have smoked for years, you can still reduce your risk by quitting now.
- Obesity or Elevated Cholesterol: Reducing your dietary intake of saturated fats and cholesterol may help reduce your risk of a stroke.
- Physical Inactivity: A lack of exercise raises the risk of heart disease which increases the risk of stroke.
- Excessive Alcohol Intake and Drug Use: Both factors can increase the risk of stroke.
Other, uncontrollable, risk factors include age (stroke is more common in those over 60), gender (males are more likely to have a stroke at a younger age), heredity (stroke is more common in those whose relatives have had a stroke at an early age), and ethnicity (African- and Hispanic-Americans are more likely to have a stroke than other Americans).
Indeed, nothing about a stoke is easy. It is a mysterious illness with painfully difficult and sometimes deadly effects. But treatment and understanding is improving everyday, and leading a healthier lifestyle, as with so many things, has been proven to help you avoid one. Because the best way to deal with stroke is never to have one.
*This article is not written by a health care professional. It is meant only as a starting point for investigation and not intended to substitute for medical advice in any way.
References:
http://www.strokecenter.org/patients/stats.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stroke/DS00150/DSECTION=symptoms
http://www.strokeassociation.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1014
http://www.strokecenter.org/patients/risk.htm
http://mystrokeofinsight.com/
Jeremy Perkins - The author has a B.A in Journalism and Writing, an M.A. in Information Technology, and enjoys watercolor painting, sports, coding, hiking, ...
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