Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. It is the No. 5 cause of death
and a leading cause of disability in the United States.
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts (or ruptures). When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the
blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it and brain cells die
🔹 Definition
Stroke is a sudden loss of neurological function due to interruption of blood supply to the brain (ischemic stroke) or bleeding into the brain tissue (hemorrhagic stroke).
🔹 Types
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Ischemic Stroke (≈ 85% of cases)
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Caused by obstruction of a cerebral artery.
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Subtypes:
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Thrombotic stroke: local clot formation.
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Embolic stroke: clot travels from another site (often the heart).
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Hemorrhagic Stroke
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Caused by rupture of a blood vessel.
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Subtypes:
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Intracerebral hemorrhage.
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Subarachnoid hemorrhage.
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Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
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A “mini-stroke” with symptoms lasting less than 24 hours, often a warning sign.
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🔹 Risk Factors
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Hypertension
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Diabetes Mellitus
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Smoking
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Hyperlipidemia
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Atrial fibrillation
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Obesity & sedentary lifestyle
🔹 Clinical Signs & Symptoms (FAST)
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F: Facial droop
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A: Arm weakness
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S: Speech difficulty
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T: Time to call emergency
Other signs: sudden loss of balance, severe headache, vision disturbances.
🔹 Common Complications
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Hemiplegia or hemiparesis
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Aphasia or dysarthria
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Dysphagia
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Cognitive or perceptual impairments (e.g., neglect, memory problems)
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