A Stroke is a sudden loss of brain function. This is due to the interruption of the flow of blood to the brain (ischemic stoke) or when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures (hemorrhagic stroke). This is also referred to as a ‘brain attack’, as it occurs suddenly and immediate treatment is necessary. Due to this, brain cells (neurons) die and as a result the brain gets damaged. When these cells die, the areas controlled by the particular area of the brain too suffers. The seriousness and the condition of the person suffering from a stroke depend on how badly the brain has got damaged. A Stroke can cause loss of sensation, vision and difficulty with speaking and movement A few people have also suffered a stroke due to cardiac arrest.
According to National Stroke Association, Stroke is the third leading cause of deaths. It is also the leading cause of adult disability. The severity of the stroke is that two million cells in the brain dies every minute, thereby increasing the risk of permanent brain damage.
Symptoms are known to be head-aches at the time of the attack and some may not feel any pain at all. Thereby, this is taken lightly, and proper medication is delayed as a result. Brain cells start to die rapidly, and immediate treatment should be given to prevent further damage. This could happen to anyone. Age is no barrier. But there are factors that are known to increase the risk of it occurring. Though some cannot be changed, but the risk of suffering from a stroke may be reduced with drugs and style of living.
Few Facts about Stroke:-
According to American Stroke Association, a Division of the Heart Association, the African American community is at a higher risk of a stroke compared to the whites.
More men suffer strokes than women.
People with a family history of Stroke, are more prone to an attack, due to high blood pressure, heart ailments and diabetes in the family.
Smoking doubles the risk of a Stroke.
If the left side of the body gets affected, it is a known fact that the right side of the brain has suffered and vise versa.
Almost three times the amount of women die of stroke than breast cancer in the UK.
Therefore it is important that the patient is rushed to a hospital and immediate treatment is given to minimize the affect of the stroke, as when the swelling and inflammation due to a stroke subsides the cells near the dead cells can work again.
However, stroke is preventable. As such, it is vital that all those who are at risk take every precaution possible and guidance is obtained to prevent a deadly attack as ‘Stroke’.
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