What is a stroke?

The brain, like all parts of the body, needs oxygen, which it gets from the blood. A stroke occurs when the flow of blood in a part of the brain is blocked. When brain cells are starved of oxygen, they become damaged and the symptoms that follow are called a stroke.

Causes

The main causes that can make you more likely to have a stroke are high blood pressure, smoking or chewing tobacco, heart diseases, diabetes, obesity, or genetic disorders.

Types

There are mainly two types of strokes, ischemic stroke or hemorrhagic stroke. In one type of stroke, ischemic stroke, an artery in our brain narrows or becomes completely blocked, preventing normal blood flow through the artery. The lack of blood flow causes ischemic stroke. In another type of stroke that is hemorrhagic stroke, an artery bursts, spilling blood directly onto the brain. In both types of strokes, the brain tissues are destroyed.

Symptoms

As the brain controls the whole body the symptoms of a stroke can be wide-ranging, depending on which part of the brain is affected. People may experience muscular instability, difficulty in walking, blurred vision, difficulty speaking, lightheadedness, numbness or weakness, or mental confusion.

Treatment

Immediate treatment for your stroke may help to minimize brain cell injury and death. If you have an ischemic stroke, medication may be provided to break up the clot causing the stroke. Later, the doctor may recommend surgery and in the case of hemorrhagic stroke, emergency surgery may be necessary to repair the damaged artery.

Treatment at home

If a person needs regular medications, home health care can be a viable option. The stroke patients who struggle with motor impairment after stroke can do rehabilitation exercises to help rewire the brain.

When to see a doctor?

The warning signs of stroke include sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg especially on one side of the body, and sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech. When these symptoms are seen, immediate medical help should be given and the patient should be sent to the doctor.