Stroke Condition: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, And Treatment

When blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off or decreased, brain tissue is deprived of adequate oxygen and nutrients to function properly, resulting in a stroke or brain attack. The brain cells begin to die within a few minutes after the event. As a consequence, the injured brain is unable to govern the part of the body it controls.

It is a medical emergency, also known as a “cerebrovascular accident (CVA),” for which prompt treatment is essential. Early intervention may help reduce the chance of brain damage and other adverse effects. Effective therapies may also assist in reducing the likelihood of stroke-related impairment.

Stroke is of two types. Ischemic stroke occurs when there is a loss of blood to only one part of the brain. Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when there is bleeding within the whole brain. A transient ischemic attack (TIA) has symptoms that are similar to those of a stroke. When the blood supply to the brain is stopped for a short period of time, it is referred to as a “mini-stroke.” It does not cause long-term harm to brain cells, but it does increase your chances of having a stroke.

Causes

The most frequent cause of a stroke is a blood clot (thrombosis) blocking an artery in the brain, which results in the death of brain cells. This results in a lack of both blood and oxygen being delivered to the part of the brain supplied by the blocked blood artery. Because of a shortage of blood and oxygen to that area of the brain, the cells in that portion of the brain die, and as a consequence, the part of the body that it regulates ceases to function. The majority of the time, a cholesterol plaque in one of the brain’s tiny blood arteries ruptures, causing the clotting response to take place. The presence of narrowed blood vessels in the brain is associated with a number of risk factors. Hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and high cholesterol are some of these factors.

A clot or a fragment of atherosclerotic plaque breaks free and travels through the circulation to lodge in a brain artery, causing a stroke. When the flow of blood to the brain is disturbed, brain cells become deprived of the oxygen and glucose they need to operate properly. To describe this kind of stroke, the phrase “embolic stroke” is used. When one or more of these blood clots break off and move through the circulation (embolism), they may clog and block a brain artery, resulting in a stroke (ischemic stroke).

Whenever a blood artery in the brain ruptures and blood spills into the surrounding brain tissue, this is known as a cerebral hemorrhage. As a result, different regions of the brain are deprived of blood and oxygen, resulting in the onset of stroke symptoms. The amount of blood that gets to certain cells is decreased. Stroke may also be caused by vascular disease, which is characterized by inflammation of the blood vessels that results in reduced blood flow to particular regions of the brain.

Symptoms

Some of the indications and symptoms of a stroke are as follows:

• Having difficulty communicating and comprehending what people are saying. It is possible that you may have dizziness, slurred speech, or trouble comprehending what is being spoken around you.
• Numbness or paralysis of the face, arm, or leg are common signs of this condition. It is common for just one side of the body to be afflicted at a time.
• Double vision and abrupt blurred or darkened vision in one or both eyes, as well as double vision, are potential side effects of this condition.
• If you have a sudden, intense headache that is followed by vomiting, dizziness, or altered consciousness, you may be suffering from a stroke.
• You may feel dizzy or lose your coordination all at once.

Diagnosis

The physical examination is the initial step in detecting a stroke. It is likely that your doctor may perform a number of tests on you, such as listening to your heartbeat and taking your blood pressure readings. An assessment of your neurological system will be conducted as well in order to evaluate the effect of a potential stroke on your nervous system.

It is conceivable that you may be subjected to a variety of additional blood tests, such as those to assess how fast your blood clots, whether your blood sugar level is too high or too low, and whether you have an infection. CT scan captures X-rays of your brain in order to generate a detailed picture of your brain. A CT scan may show signs of an ischemic stroke, a tumor, or a brain hemorrhage, among other things.

MRI scans are used to identify brain tissue damage. When a stroke occurs, an echocardiography may be done to determine the source of blood clots in the heart.

Treatment

Depending on the kind of stroke you are suffering, whether it is an ischemia or a bleeding stroke into the brain, you will require immediate treatment (hemorrhagic). For ischemic stroke treatment, physicians restore blood flow to the brain as quickly as possible to treat an ischemic stroke. This may be done by using the following methods:

• Emergency IV medication: Intravenous clot-busting treatment must be started within 4.5 hours after beginning symptoms. Faster medication delivery is better. Rapid treatment improves outcomes and minimizes risks.
• Endovascular emergency procedure: Ischemic strokes are occasionally treated directly within the blood artery. Endovascular treatment improves outcomes. It involves clot removal with a stent.

Treatment for hemorrhagic stroke has the goal of controlling the bleeding as well as lowering the pressure in the brain. Treatment options include:

• Emergency measures to lower blood pressure
• Surgical clipping
• Surgery

When to See a Doctor

You should call your doctor immediately if you see any signs or symptoms of a stroke, regardless of whether they appear to come and go or vanish entirely. It is more probable that a stroke will result in brain damage and impairment if it is left untreated for a longer period of time.