A stroke occurs when blood that carries oxygen to the brain is blocked.
Stroke is a medical emergency. Without oxygen, brain cells begin to die within a few minutes.
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Every year, nearly 800,000 people in the United States have a stroke, roughly the same amount of people who live in San Francisco.
Strokes can occur at any age, though stroke risk increases as you get older.
There are two main types of stroke:
Ischemic strokes account for 87 percent of all strokes.
They happen when theres a blood clot that blocks blood flow to a part of the brain.
There are two ways this can happen:
Hemorrhagic strokes occur when a weakened blood vessel in the brain ruptures and bleeds into surrounding brain tissue.
This puts too much pressure on blood cells in the surrounding tissue, cutting off their blood supply and causing damage.
An aneurysm a weak spot in a blood vessel wall that balloons outward can lead to a hemorrhagic stroke, as can a tangle of malformed blood vessels called an arteriovenous malformation.
Chronic high blood pressure may also weaken spots in the artery wall, making these spots more prone to rupture.
About 13 percent of all strokes are hemorrhagic strokes.
A TIA, or transient ischemic attack, is a temporary blockage caused by a blood clot.
TIA is sometimes referred to as mini stroke or warning stroke, because it can be a warning sign of a future stroke.
About 40 percent of people who have a TIA will have a major stroke within a year if the condition is not treated, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A stroke may cause temporary or permanent disabilities.
Stroke complications will depend on what part of the brain was affected by the stroke and for how long the brain was without oxygen.
Some common stroke complications include:
Treatment for stroke complications usually involves a combination of therapy and medication.
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Stroke is a leading cause of disability and death in the United States.
About 600,000 new strokes are reported each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Treatments are available that can reduce the damage of stroke. Getting treatment within 60 minutes of having a stroke can help to prevent permanent disability.
Knowing the signs and symptoms of stroke can help save lives.
Because stroke injures the brain, people who are having a stroke may not be aware of it.
People suffering from stroke have the best chance of surviving if someone around them recognizes the signs and acts quickly by calling 9-1-1.
The type and severity of stroke symptoms depend on the area of the brain that is affected.
Signs and symptoms of stroke in both men and women may include:
Learning this simple acronym can help you remember the signs and symptoms of stroke.
If you think that you or someone around you is having a stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately.
F. Face drooping: Ask the person to smile. Is the smile uneven?
A. Arm weakness: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one drift downward?
S. Speech difficulty: Is speech slurred or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence like: The sky is blue. Is the sentence repeated correctly?
T. Time to call 9-1-1 if someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away. Check the time so youll know when symptoms first started.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in women (and the fifth leading cause of death in men).
Each year stroke kills twice as many women as breast cancer, according to the National Stroke Association.
The stroke symptoms women may experience can be different from those experienced by men. These include:
Your doctor will diagnose stroke based on several factors, including symptoms, medical history, physical exam, and diagnostic tests.
The following brain and heart tests may be used to help diagnose stroke:
Blood tests may also be used to help diagnose a stroke.
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A stroke happens when blood that carries oxygen to the brain is blocked.
There are two main types of stroke: ischemic and hemorrhagic.
Ischemic strokes are caused by blood clots that block blood flow to the brain.
Blockages can form when the arteries supplying blood to the brain become narrowed by a build-up of plaque.
Plaque is a combination of fat, cholesterol and other substances that build up in the inner lining of the artery wall.
This condition is often referred to as atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.
Hemorrhagic strokes are caused by bleeding in or around the brain.
Bleeding occurs when a weakened blood vessel in the brain ruptures and leaks into the surrounding brain tissue.
The leaked blood can put too much pressure on the blood cells in the brain, causing damage.
Chronic high blood pressure is the most common reason for hemorrhagic stroke.
Two types of weakened blood vessels can cause hemorrhagic stroke:
Certain environmental factors, medical conditions, and lifestyle habits increase your risk of stroke.
Some risk factors can be treated or controlled, while other risk factors cannot.
Factors that cant be changed include:
Stroke risk factors that can be prevented or controlled include:
Certain lifestyle habits and conditions can also increase your risk of stroke.
These risk factors include:
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Some risk factors for stroke, including your age and family history, cant be changed.
Luckily there are still many steps you can take to prevent stroke.
Not getting enough exercise is associated with a wide range of health problems, including stroke.
A 2008 assessment by the Department of Health and Human Services found that physically active men and women have a 25 to 30 percent lower risk of stroke than their less active counterparts.
Exercise may help prevent stroke by helping to reduce other risk factors, including high blood pressure and obesity.
In their 2014 stroke prevention guidelines, the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association recommended that healthy adults get at least 40 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise 3 to 4 days a week.
Moderate to vigorous intensity means you should be breathing hard and your heart rate should be elevated.
A healthy diet can go a long way toward lowering blood pressure, which is one of the main risk factors of stroke.
Being overweight or obese, eating too much salt, and eating too little potassium can drive up blood pressure.
Table salt is not the biggest contributor to salt in the diet. The majority of salt in the American diet comes from breads, meats, sandwiches, soups, and other processed and packaged foods.
The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association recommend adopting a diet thats high in potassium-rich fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products and reduced saturated fat to help prevent stroke.
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.
Blood pressure, specifically systolic blood pressure, increases naturally with age.
According to some studies, even adults who have normal blood pressure at age 55 will have a 90 percent chance of developing high blood pressure at some point in their life.
Healthy habits, including exercise, eating a diet low in sodium, and maintaining a healthy weight can help to keep blood pressure in the normal range.
A number of medications, including diuretics, beta blockers and ACE inhibitors may also be used to help control blood pressure and reduce stroke risk.
Having your blood pressure checked at least once a year can help you manage your risk for stroke.
Many scientific studies have found high total cholesterol to be a risk factor for stroke.
In addition to adopting healthy eating habits that emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats, cholesterol-lowering medications called statins may be prescribed to help reduce your risk of clogged arteries.
If you have high cholesterol, talk to your doctor about whether statins are right for you.
Smoking cigarettes can double your risk of stroke.
If you are a smoker, quitting smoking (even if you have been smoking for a long time) can go a long way in helping to reduce your stroke risk.
In addition to medications that help to lower high blood pressure and control cholesterol levels, people at high risk of stroke may be advised to take anticoagulant medicines, such as warfarin, or an antiplatelet medicine, such as aspirin, to help prevent stroke-causing blood clots from forming.
Talk to your doctor about drugs that might help you avoid a stroke.
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Treatments for stroke vary depending on whether the stroke is caused by a blood clot (ischemic stroke) or a brain bleed (hemorrhagic stroke).
Not matter the type of stroke, acting fast and seeking treatment as quickly as possible is key to reducing the risk of permanent brain damage.
Ischemic strokes happen when a blood clot in an artery blocks the flow of blood and oxygen to a portion of the brain.
With this type of stroke, the goal is to restore blood flow to the brain as quickly as possible.
A number of medications may be given at the hospital to help break up the clot and prevent the formation of new clots.
These medications may include:
Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA, alteplase): Alteplase or tPA is a thrombolytic medication, often referred to as a clot buster.
These drugs must be started within a few hours after stroke symptoms first appear.
They will quickly break up or dissolve blood clots that are blocking blood flow to the brain.
This type of medicine is given through a catheter or IV tube in the arm.
Aspirin: Aspirin wont dissolve existing blood clots, but it will help to prevent new clots from forming.
Doctors may give aspirin within 48 hours of the start of stroke symptoms.
Anticoagulants: Anticoagulants, such as heparin, may be used to help prevent more blood clots from forming.
Hemorrhagic strokes happen when blood vessels in or around the brain rupture or leak.
This puts too much pressure on the surrounding brain tissue, cutting off circulation and starving the brain of oxygen.
Treatment for hemorrhagic stroke will depend on the cause of the bleeding and what part of the brain is affected.
Bleeding around the brain is often caused by abnormally formed blood vessels, called aneurysms.
Bleeding in the brain is often caused by high blood pressure.
Non-surgical treatments for hemorrhagic stroke may include:
Surgical treatments for hemorrhagic stroke may include:
Endovascular treatment: A long tube is slid into a blood vessel in an arm or leg, and passed all the way up to the blood vessels in the brain, where a coil or clip is placed to prevent further bleeding.
Revascularization refers to procedures that restore blood flow through a blocked artery.
Aneurysm treatment: This may involve removing a small piece of the skull to locate the aneurysm and put a small clamp around it to stop the bleeding.
An aneurysm may also be treated by placing a small tube or catheter into a blood vessel in the groin. The catheter is then guided through the blood vessel to the location of the aneurysm.
A small coil may be placed within the aneurysm to block blood flow and prevent it from rupturing again.
Decompressive craniotomy: If a patients life is in danger, the doctor may consider opening the skull to remove blood and release pressure on the brain.
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Brain injury due to stroke can change the way you move, feel, think, or speak. The effects are greatest right after the stroke.
Over time, most people will make improvements.
Stroke rehabilitation programs can help, though stroke rehabilitation will not cure or reverse brain damage.
The goals of stroke rehabilitation are to help stroke survivors live as independently as possible while adjusting to new limitations.
Rehabilitation usually starts in the hospital, within a day or two of the stroke. Stroke rehabilitation may continue for months or even years after leaving the hospital.
The types of therapy will depend on what parts of the brain were damaged during the stroke.
Stroke survivors may require:
Stroke survivors may have trouble speaking, finding words, or understanding what other people are saying. This is called aphasia.
Speech-language pathologists help people with aphasia relearn how to use language and communicate.
Therapy may include repeating words as well as reading and writing exercises.
Stroke can cause problems with movement. Paralysis, or loss of muscle function, is common after stroke especially on one side of the body.
Physical therapy can help stroke survivors regain strength, coordination, balance, and control of movement.
Occupational therapists or rehabilitation nurses can help stroke survivors relearn some of the skills they will need to care for themselves after a stroke.
Rehabilitation nurses may help stroke survivors manage their personal care, such as bathing and washing.
They can also help with therapy to regain continence (control of bladder and bowel movements) after a stroke.
Occupational therapists may help stroke survivors relearn how to do activities such as preparing meals, cleaning the house, and driving.
Stroke can cause chemical changes in the brain that affect the way a person thinks, feels, and behaves.
At the same time, stroke rehabilitation can be a long and difficult process.
Even after rehabilitation is complete, most stroke survivors will live with some minor to moderate disabilities.
Many stroke survivors will require mental health counseling and medications to help address issues such as depression, anxiety, frustration, and anger.
Its important to identify and treat mental health issues such as depression early in the recovery process.
Stroke survivors that are depressed may be less likely to follow through with stroke rehabilitation and treatment plans.
Before you leave the hospital, a hospital social worker will meet with you and your family to assess what type of rehabilitation programs and living situation you will need while recovering from a stroke.
Some common types of stroke programs and facilities include:
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