stroke_ causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment - medical news today

12/06/2015 Stroke: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment - Medical News Today

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Stroke

Neurology / Neuroscience

Knowledge center

Stroke: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Stroke is the 4th leading cause of death in the US, with

one person dying every 4 minutes as a result.

Approximately 800,000 people have a stroke each year;

about one every 4 seconds. Only heart disease, cancer and

chronic lower respiratory diseases are more deadly.1-3

Strokes occur due to problems with the blood supply to the

brain; either the blood supply is blocked or a blood vessel

within the brain ruptures. A stroke is a medical emergency,

and treatment must be sought as quickly as possible.

There are three main kinds of stroke; ischemic strokes,

hemorrhagic strokes and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs),

also referred to as mini-strokes. There is a separate

Knowledge Center page for transient ischemic attacks.

Contents of this article:

1. What is stroke?

2. What causes stroke?

3. Signs and symptoms

4. Tests and diagnosis

5. Treatment and prevention

You will also see introductions at the end of some sections to any recent developments that have been

covered by MNT's news stories. Also look out for links to information about related conditions.

ADVERTISEMENT



Fast facts on stroke

Here are some key points about stroke. More detail and supporting information is in the main article.

During a stroke, the brain does not receive enough oxygen or nutrients, causing brain cells to die.

There are three main kinds of stroke: ischemic strokes, hemorrhagic strokes and transient

ischemic attacks.

Ischemic strokes are caused by a narrowing or blocking of arteries to the brain.

Hemorrhagic strokes are caused by blood vessels in and around the brain bursting or leaking.

Strokes need to be diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible in order to minimize brain

damage.

Remembering the F.A.S.T. acronym can help with recognizing the onset of stroke.

Treatment depends on the type of stroke.

Ischemic strokes can be treated with 'clot-busting' drugs.

Hemorrhagic strokes can be treated with surgery to repair or block blood vessel weaknesses.

The most effective way to prevent strokes is through maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

What is stroke?4

Stroke occurs when the supply of blood to the brain is either interrupted or reduced. When this happens, the

brain does not get enough oxygen or nutrients which causes brain cells to die.

Strokes occur due to problems with the blood supply to the brain; either

the blood supply is blocked or a blood vessel within the brain ruptures.

There are three main kinds of stroke; ischemic, hemorrhagic and TIA. This article will focus on ischemic and

hemorrhagic strokes, as there is a separate Knowledge Center article for TIAs, which goes into specific detail

about them.



In the US, approximately 40% of stroke deaths are in males, with 60% in females. According to the

American Heart Association (AHA), in 2006, the stroke death rates per 100,00 population could be split into

specific social groups at 41.7% for white males, 41.1% for white females, 67.7% for black males and 57.0%

for black females.3

Stroke is also more likely to affect people if they are overweight, aged 55 or older, have a personal or family

history of stroke, do not exercise much, drink heavily or use illicit drugs. 5

What causes stroke?

The different forms of stroke have different specific causes.

Ischemic strokes4

Ischemic strokes are the most common form of stroke, with around 85% of strokes being of this type. They are

caused by the arteries that connect to the brain becoming blocked or narrowed, resulting in ischemia -

severely reduced blood flow.

These blockages are often caused by blood clots, which can form either in the arteries connecting to the brain,

or further away before being swept through the bloodstream and into narrower arteries within the brain.

Clots can be caused by fatty deposits within the arteries called plaque.

Hypertension can lead to blood vessel ruptures and hemorrhagic

strokes.

Hemorrhagic strokes4,6

Hemorrhagic strokes are caused by arteries in the brain either leaking blood or bursting open. The

hemorrhaged blood puts pressure on brain cells and damages them. Blood vessels can burst or spill blood in

the middle of the brain or near the surface of the brain, sending blood into the space between the brain and

the skull.

The ruptures can be caused by conditions such as hypertension, trauma, blood-thinning medications and

aneurysms (weaknesses in blood vessel walls).



Transient ischemic attack (TIA)4,6

TIAs are different from the aforementioned kinds of stroke because the flow of blood to the brain is only

disrupted temporarily for a short time. They are similar to ischemic strokes in that they are often caused by

blood clots or other debris.

TIAs should be regarded as medical emergencies just like the other kinds of stroke, even if the blockage of the

artery is temporary. They serve as warning signs for future strokes and indicate that there is a partially

blocked artery or clot source in the heart.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over a third of people who experience a TIA

go on to have a major stroke within a year if they have not received any treatment. Between 10-15% will have a

major stroke within 3 months.

Recent developments on stroke causes from MNT news

Common inflammatory disorder increases heart attack, stroke risk

People who have polymyalgia rheumatica - a common inflammatory disorder among seniors that causes

pain and stiffness - are more at risk of heart attacks and strokes, according to a new study published in

CMAJ.

Psychological stress 'increases risk of stroke'

Depressive symptoms in particular, but also chronic stress in life, increase the risk of older people

having a stroke or transient ischemic attack, says researchers, who found feelings of hostility, but not

anger, were also a risk factor for cerebrovascular disease.

Heavy drinking in midlife increases stroke risk 'more than diabetes'

It is well known that high blood pressure and diabetes can raise the risk of stroke. But a new twin study

finds that, for middle-aged individuals, there may be one factor that increases this risk even more:

heavy alcohol consumption.

Signs and symptoms7-9

Strokes occur quickly, and as such their symptoms often appear suddenly without warning. The main

symptoms are as follows:

Confusion, including trouble with speaking and understanding

Headache, possibly with altered consciousness or vomiting

Numbness of the face, arm or leg, particularly on one side of the body

Trouble with seeing, in one or both eyes

Trouble with walking, including dizziness and lack of co-ordination.

Strokes can lead to long-term problems. Depending on how quickly it is diagnosed and treated, the patient can

experience temporary or permanent disabilities in the aftermath of a stroke. In addition to the problems listed



References

Copyright: Medical News Today

above continuing, patients may also experience the following:

Bladder or bowel control problems

Depression

Pain in the hands and feet that gets worse with movement and temperature changes

Paralysis or weakness on one or both sides of the body

Trouble controlling or expressing emotions.

On the next page we look at how to diagnose a stroke, plus the treatment and prevention of strokes.

1. CDC Stroke , accessed 31 July 2014.

2. CDC Leading Causes of Death , accessed 31 July 2014.

3. AHA Impact of Stroke (Stroke statistics) , accessed 31 July 2014.

4. Mayo Clinic Causes , accessed 31 July 2014.

5. Mayo Clinic Risk factors , accessed 31 July 2014.

6. CDC Types of Stroke , accessed 31 July 2014.

7. CDC Stroke Signs and Symptoms , accessed 31 July 2014.

8. Mayo Clinic Symptoms , accessed 31 July 2014.

9. CDC Recovering From Stroke , accessed 31 July 2014.

10. AHA Spot a Stroke: Stroke Warning Signs and Symptoms , accessed 31 July 2014.

11. Mayo Clinic Tests and diagnosis , accessed 31 July 2014.

12. Mayo Clinic Treatment and drugs , accessed 31 July 2014.

13. CDC Stroke Treatments , accessed 31 July 2014.

14. AHA What Is an Arteriovenous Malformation? (AVM) , accessed 31 July 2014.

15. Mayo Clinic Coping and Support , accessed 31 July 2014.

16. Mayo Clinic Prevention , accessed 31 July 2014.

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