As we post at stroke symptoms before, stroke is a ccondition that occurs when the blood supply to the brain is cut off by a blockage or rupture of blood vessels, resulting in the death of cells in some areas of the brain. Stroke is a serious health condition that requires immediate attention. Stroke is a disease that is caused by a blockage in the blood vessels of the brain or the rupture of blood vessels in the brain. So caused by a blockage or rupture of blood vessels, certain brain regions reduced and even stopped the supply of oxygen to be broken even death. As a result, there arose a variety of symptoms correspond to regions of the brain are involved, such as the face paralyzed, loss of speech (cedal), paralysis of limbs, coma and even be life threatening.
Causes of stroke
Most of the causes of strokes could be prevented by changing your lifestyle into a healthy lifestyle. Nevertheless, there is some risk of stroke can not be changed, and the case will be explained below.
If you have ever experienced a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)or minor stroke and heart attack, your risk of stroke is higher.
Your risk of getting a stroke higher if you have a close family member who has had a stroke.
Your risk of stroke if you are over 65 years, although a quarter of strokes occur at a younger age.
Suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure or have high cholesterol.
Ischemic stroke
Ischemic stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain stops due to the formation of blood clots. Easy blood clot in blood vessels where there is accumulation of cholesterol or there has been damage to the walls. Here are the things that have a negative impact on blood vessels that can trigger ischemic stroke:
Hypertension or high blood pressure.
High levels of cholesterol in the blood.
Uncontrolled diabetes. High blood sugar levels adversely affect blood vessel walls.
Irregular heartbeat, or atrial fibrillation is also one of the causes of ischemic stroke. With an irregular heartbeat, blood flow is disturbed patients fribrilasi atrium. It also provides easy blood clot causing an ischemic stroke. Arteries can also be narrowed with age, and the process of narrowing of the arteries that can grow quickly if you have one or more of these conditions:
Obese
Excessive alcohol consumption
Smoke
Having high cholesterol levels
Having a family history of heart disease or diabetes
At a younger age, the risk of ischemic stroke may be increased because of the use of contraceptive drugs, migraine, coagulopathy (blood clotting disorders), and a new head injury occurs.
Hemorrhagic stroke
Hemorrhagic strokes occur when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and causes bleeding. About five percent of the bleeding occurs on the surface of the brain known as subarachnoid hemorrhage. High blood pressure is a major cause of hemorrhagic stroke. High blood pressure can weaken the arteries in the brain and thus susceptible to rupture.
There are several things that can trigger a rise in blood pressure, such as smoking, lack of exercise, stress, excessive alcohol consumption, and overweight or obese. Never experienced a TIA or stroke may also increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Diabetics, arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), and heart valve disease, also have a greater risk of hemorrhagic stroke.
Hemorrhagic stroke can also occur due to rupture of blood vessels bulging or swelling called an aneurysm. Trauma or injury to the head can also cause hemorrhagic stroke. Even so, there are some cases in which there is bleeding in the lining of the brain without any signs of trauma. It usually occurs in older people, and symptoms similar to a stroke. Bleeding that occurs in the lining of the brain known as a subdural hematoma.
People who consume blood clots prevention drugs, or anticoagulants should also be careful. One risk of using these drugs is a hemorrhagic stroke. Anticoagulant drugs are harder to make blood clot. This means, if there is bleeding, bleeding it would be difficult to halt.
Stroke diagnosis
Stroke is generally diagnosed through physical tests, as well as through the photos or brain imaging. Making use of brain images to determine whether a stroke is caused by a blocked artery or a ruptured blood vessel, the risk of ischemic stroke, the part of the brain affected and the severity of the stroke.
In addition, the doctor will examine the cause of stroke by checking the heart rate, blood pressure, and blood test to determine cholesterol and glucose level of the patient. Each type of stroke requires different handling. The treatment would be easier if supported by a prompt diagnosis.
Stroke diagnosis using CT scans and MRI scans
The type of scan in the hospital, depending on the symptoms. There are two common methods used in taking pictures of the brain, the first is, CT scan, or computed tomography scanning. This scan, as well as X-ray, but it uses several images to form a three-dimensional image that is more detailed. The second common method is the MRI scan or magnetic resonance imaging scan. This scan uses magnetic fields and strong radio waves, to produce detailed images of the body parts.
CT scan is enough to identify whether a stroke is caused by bleeding or clotting. If you suffered a massive stroke, scanning is suitable for you. This scan is faster than a MRI scan and in certain cases, increase the chances of drug delivery quickly and accurately.
For patients who have recovered from a TIA stroke (transient ischemic attack), or mild stroke, and for patients who have symptoms more complex where the location and extent of damage is unknown, MRI scanning is more precise. This scan produces images of brain tissue that is more detailed, allowing the identification of a stroke at the unusual.
The process of taking images of blood vessels of the brain and blood vessels of the neck that begins by injecting a dye past the blood vessels in the arm called a CT or MR angiography. Brain scans should be undertaken of all patients suspected of having a stroke within 24 hours. However, there are some patients who should be scanned immediately within one hour, especially for those who:
Have a lower level of consciousness.
Are undergoing anticoagulant treatment.
Relying on drugs like clot busting new tPAatau undergoing anticoagulant treatment.
A blood test to support the diagnosis
This test is adjusted to each patient, blood tests of stroke may include a complete blood test (Complete Blood Count), cardiac markers, blood sugar, blood clotting examination, lipid profile, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, a pregnancy test, and others.
Tests swallowing to prevent lung infections
One third of people having problems in swallowing after stroke. If a person can not swallow properly, then the lungs at risk of conceding food. It can lead to pneumonia and infections of the lungs.
Swallowing test is very important conducted to people who have had a stroke. This test is quite simple. Patients only need to take a few spoonfuls of water. If the patient is able to gulp the water without choking and coughing, they will be asked to gulp half a glass of water. If they are not capable of gulping, then they will be referred to a relevant therapy to be examined in more detail.
Before examined therapist, patients are usually devour anything forbidden. Therefore, the food and drink into the body to go through an IV or by using a nasogastric tube through the nose.
Ascertain the cause of stroke with heart and blood vessel tests
Examination of blood vessels and the heart will be conducted to ascertain the cause of stroke. There are three types of inspection processes, among others, is an echocardiogram, catheterangiography or arteriography, and ultrasound or carotid ultrasonography.
The diagnosis of stroke using echocardiogram
Echocardiogram can be used in a number of cases. One is called transthoracic echocardiogram examination, ie examination using an ultrasound instrument that is placed on the chest to produce images of the heart.
The second is transoesophageal echocardiography. This examination using an ultrasonic instrument that is placed into the food channel and are usually sedated patients first. Because right behind the heart, this test produces images of blood clots and other abnormalities are clearly, and can not be done by trasthoracic echocardiogram.
The diagnosis of stroke with carotid ultrasound or ultrasound
This is another way to check if there is a narrowing or clots in the arteries leading to the brain. The tools used are rod-shaped device known as a transducer. Through these tools, high frequency sound waves are sent into the neck. Waves flowing through the body's tissues will then form an image. From the pictures that the doctor will determine the points where there is narrowing of the arteries. If required, this examination should be done within 48 hours. Ultrasound scan as it also has other terms known in general, the duplex scan or doppler scan.
The diagnosis of stroke with catheter angiography
This examination is done by injecting dye through spinal artery, or carotid. The results of this examination is more detailed than the results obtained with ultrasound, CT scan, or MR angiography.
Stroke prevention
The best way to prevent stroke is to exercise regularly, eat nutritious foods and healthy, not consuming alcohol, do not smoke, and avoid or cope with stress. In addition, if you suffer from a disease that could trigger a stroke such as diabetes, atrial fibrillation in which the heart beats abnormally (arrhythmias), hypertension or high blood pressure, and sleep disorder called sleep apnea, control and treat the whole condition of the well.
Preventing stroke through diet
Bad food is the main cause of someone having a stroke. Foods containing saturated fat and high salt should be avoided. These foods can cause the accumulation of cholesterol in the arteries, obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure all of which trigger stroke. Good salt consumption is as much as six grams or one teaspoon per day.
The recommended foods for health is a diet rich in unsaturated fats, protein, vitamins, and fiber. The entire meal you can get on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and low-fat meats such as chicken breast. Here is a list of foods you should watch out because it contains high saturated fat:
Fatty meats.
Food or beverages that contain coconut milk.
Cream.
Cakes and biscuits.
Foods containing coconut or palm oil.
Cheese.
Butter.
In order for the cholesterol levels in your body is reduced, then your diet should be balanced. A balanced diet includes foods rich in unsaturated fats, among them:
Avocados.
Fish oil.
Olive oil, vegetable oil, sunflower oil, and few seeds.
Nuts and seeds.
Preventing stroke with exercise
Regular exercise can make your heart and circulatory system work more efficiently. Exercise also can lower cholesterol levels, maintain weight, and blood pressure at a healthy level. Recommended cholesterol level of health experts is 5 millimoles / liter of blood, while a healthy blood pressure is in the range of 90/60 mmHg to 120/80 mmHg. Blood pressure is measured using two numbers. The first number represents the pressure when the heart pumps blood throughout the body, otherwise known as systolic pressure. The second number represents the pressure while the heart at rest to wait for the next contraction or heart rate, and is known as the diastolic pressure.
Stop smoking
The risk of stroke increased two-fold if you smoke because smoking can narrow the arteries and make blood tends to clot. You do not smoke, it can increase your health and avoid other health problems, such as lung disease and heart.
Avoid consumption of liquor
The liquor contains high calories. If the liquor consumed in excess, then you are susceptible to various diseases that can trigger a stroke, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and clogged arteries. Excessive alcohol consumption also can make the heartbeat becomes irregular.