Stroke

Source :
Wiki
Stroke Center

Early symptoms

• Sudden walking problems, vertigo, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden weakness, numbness or tingling in the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body which may be seen as drooping on one side of the face
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden vision problems in one or both eyes
• Sudden acute headache without a known cause
• Very sudden onset of nausea, fever and vomiting
• Brief fainting spells, loss of consciousness or convulsions

Several of these symptoms can occur for other reasons, but strokes are frequently characterized by the suddenness of their appearance. It can be a costly mistake to ignore symptoms — waiting for them to subside.

Risk Factors

• Poor diet: A diet high in saturated fat and low in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fiber increases your risk of having a stroke
• Smoking increases your chances of having a stroke
• Lack of Physical Activity: People who do not get moderate exercise regularly are at increased risk.
• Medical Conditions: The following medical conditions increase your risk of having a stroke:
• Atrial fibrillation
• Previous stroke
• Known vascular disease
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Blood fat disorders (such as high LDL cholesterol)
• Obesity
  

• Age: Risk increases with age
• Gender: Men are at higher risk of stroke than women are earlier in life, but women's risk catches up to men's within about ten years after menopause.
• Genetic Factors: Although your risk of stroke is higher if a family member has had a stroke, this risk factor is minimal in relation to the risk factors listed above.
• Ethnic Background: African-Americans are more likely to have hemorrhagic strokes. This may be due to a higher incidence of high blood pressure among African-Americans. This risk is also minimal in relation to the risk factors listed above.
  

Types of strokes

Ischemic stroke
The most common type of stroke -- accounting for almost 80% of all strokes -- is caused by a clot or other blockage within an artery leading to the brain. Ischemic stroke is commonly divided into thrombotic stroke, embolic stroke, systemic hypoperfusion , or venous thrombosis.

Hemorrhagic stroke
A hemorrhagic stroke, or cerebral hemorrhage, is a form of stroke that occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures or bleeds. Like ischemic strokes, hemorrhagic strokes interrupt the brain's blood supply because the bleeding vessel can no longer carry the blood to its target tissue. In addition, blood irritates brain tissue, disrupting the delicate chemical balance, and, if the bleeding continues, it can cause increased intracranial pressure which physically impinges on brain tissue and restricts blood flow into the brain. In this respect, hemorrhagic strokes are more dangerous than their more common counterpart, ischemic strokes. There are two types of hemorrhagic stroke: intracerebral hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage.