UNDERSTANDING STROKE

How a person is affected by their stroke depends on where the stroke occurs in the brain and how much the brain is damaged. Stroke sometimes called a "brain attack" occurs when blood flow to an area in the brain is cut off. When this happens, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and nutrients and it begins to die, this happens within minutes causing that area of the brain and its abilities to be lost or impaired. If this is left untreated or not treated earlier, permanent brain damage or death may occur.

TYPES OF STROKE 
the type of stroke you have depends on your treatment and recovery. However, there are three main types of stroke.
. Ischemic stroke
. Hemorrhagic stroke
. Transient Ischemic attack
ISCHEMIC STROKE 
An Ischemic stroke happens when blood flow through the artery that supplies oxygen-rich blood to the brain becomes blocked. It is the most common type of stroke, about 80% of all strokes is Ischemic stroke. The most common ischemic strokes include:
 Thrombotic stroke -this is when blood clot or thrombus forms in one of the arteries that supply blood to your brain.
Embolic stroke - this occurs when a blood clot or other debris forms away from your brain especially in the heart.

HEMORRHAGIC STROKE 
Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain leaks or ruptures which results in high blood pressure, aneurysm. Another case of hemorrhage is the rupture of an abnormal tangle of thin-walled blood vessels (arteriovenous malformation). There are two types of hemorrhagic stroke;
Intracerebral hemorrhage- this occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, and flood the surrounding tissue with blood. This is the most common type of hemorrhagic stroke.
Subarachnoid hemorrhage- this occurs when an artery on or near the surface of the brain bursts and spills into the space between the surface of the brain and skull. When this happens, there is a sudden, severe headache.

TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK (TIA) 
This is sometimes called a warning "mini-stroke". This is the same as a stroke but the difference is that the symptoms only last for a short period of time usually not more than 5 minutes.
Note that:
. Strokes and TIA require medical emergency
. A TIA is a warning sign of a future stroke
. Blood clots often form TIA

CAUSES OF STROKE 
* Smoking or chewing tobacco.
* High blood pressure typically 140/90 or higher.
* Diabetes
* Overweight or obesity- you can lower your chances of having stroke by working out every day.
* Heart diseases such as irregular heartbeat,  and arterial fibrillation.
* Chances of having stroke doubles after 55years. However, anyone could have a stroke even babies.
* Some medications like blood thinning which are prescribed by a doctor to prevent blood clot.
* Family history of stroke.
* Women are slightly less likely to have a stroke than men of the same age.
* High cholesterol

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS 
* Loss of vision in one or both eyes
* weakness or numbness of the arm, face, or leg on one side of the body.
* Loss of speech, difficulty talking.
* Severe headache of an unknown cause.
* Difficulty understanding what others are saying.
* Loss of balance or unstable walking.

COMPLICATIONS 
* Difficulty talking or swallowing.
* Paralysis or loss of muscle movement on one side if the body.
* Emotional problems.
* Memory loss or thinking difficulties.
* Pain, numbness may occur in the parts of the body affected by stroke.
* Changes in self-care abilities.

PREVENTION 
* Lowering the amount of cholesterol and saturated fat in your diet.
 * Controlling diabetes with diet and exercise.
* Controlling high blood pressure (hypertension).
* Quitting tobacco use.
* Avoid illegal drugs.
* Watch your alcohol consumption.
* Maintain regular exercise.
* Treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)- this is when the oxygen level intermittently drops during the night.
* Consume diets rich in fruits and vegetables.

DIAGNOSIS 
There are some medical procedures that can be performed to determine the most appropriate treatment for your stroke.
*Your doctor will ask for your symptoms from family members.
* You will run several tests to check your blood sugar, whether you have an infection, and whether your blood chemicals are out of balance.
* MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), CT scan is advised to look for any haemorrhage or a tumour.
* Carotid ultrasound will be performed to check for any fatty deposits in your carotid arteries.
* Echocardiogram can also be performed with a probe.

TREATMENT 
Emergency treatment for stroke depends on whether you are having ischemic stroke or hemorrhagic stroke.
Ischemic stroke- this is the blocking of the artery so the doctor must quickly restore blood flow to the brain.
Emergency treatments
. Intravenous injection of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is given through vein in the arm to dissolve the blood clot causing a stroke.
. The doctor may use a stent retriever procedures to remove the blood clot directly from the blocked blood vessel in the brain.
Hemorrhagic stroke- this is the bleeding into the brain so the doctor focuses on controlling the bleeding and reducing pressure in the brain.
Emergency procedures include:
* Repairing of blood vessels surgically by surgical clipping, coiling (endovascular embolization), surgical AVM removal and stereostatic radiosurgery.

After emergency treatment, the stroke patient  is advised to undergo rehabilitation program to help in recovery.