Stroke Pictures_ Signs and Causes of Strokes and Mini Strokes

Page 1Stroke Pictures: Signs and Causes of Strokes and Mini Strokes

4/16/2014 9:32:51 AMhttp://www.webmd.com/stroke/ss/slideshow-stroke-overview?ecd=wnl_day_041014&ctr=wnl-day-041014_ld-stry_1&mb=hS...

What Is a Stroke?

Stroke is a medical emergency and aleading cause of death in the U.S. Itoccurs when a blood vessel in thebrain bursts or, more commonly,when a blockage develops. Withouttreatment, cells in the brain quicklybegin to die. The result can beserious disability or death. If a lovedone is having stroke symptoms, seekemergency medical attention withoutdelay.

Stroke Symptoms

Signs of a stroke may include:

Sudden numbness or weakness ofthe body, especially on one side.Sudden vision changes in one orboth eyes, or difficulty swallowing.Sudden, severe headache withunknown cause.Sudden problems with dizziness,walking, or balance.Sudden confusion, difficultyspeaking or understanding others.

Call 911 immediately if you noticeany of these symptoms.

Stroke Test: Talk, Wave,Smile

The F.A.S.T. test helps spotsymptoms. It stands for:

Face. Ask for a smile. Does one sidedroop?

Arms. When raised, does one sidedrift down?

Speech. Can the person repeat asimple sentence? Does he or shehave trouble or slur words?

Time. Time is critical. Call 911immediately if any symptoms arepresent.

Slideshow Link: http://www.webmd.com/stroke/ss/slideshow-stroke-overview?ecd=wnl_day_041014&ctr=wnl-day-041014_ld-stry_1&mb=hS3pJdZRFiVjkNAlMg80v%40HnVev1imbC63Hcpz%2fAZ2A%3d

Slideshow: A Visual Guide to Understanding Stroke



Stroke: Time = BrainDamage

Every second counts when seekingtreatment for a stroke. Whendeprived of oxygen, brain cells begindying within minutes. There are clot-busting drugs that can curb braindamage, but they have to be usedwithin three hours of the initial strokesymptoms. Once brain tissue hasdied, the body parts controlled bythat area won't work properly. This iswhy stroke is a top cause of long-term disability.

Diagnosing a Stroke

When someone with strokesymptoms arrives in the ER, the firststep is to determine which type ofstroke is occurring. There are twomain types, and they are not treatedthe same way. A CT scan can helpdoctors determine whether thesymptoms are coming from a blockedblood vessel or a bleeding one.Additional tests may also be used tofind the location of a blood clot orbleeding within the brain.

Ischemic Stroke

The most common type of stroke isknown as an ischemic stroke. Nearlynine out of 10 strokes fall into thiscategory. The culprit is a blood clotthat obstructs a blood vessel insidethe brain. The clot may develop onthe spot or travel through the bloodfrom elsewhere in the body.



Hemorrhagic Stroke

Hemorrhagic strokes are lesscommon but far more likely to befatal. They occur when a weakenedblood vessel in the brain bursts. Theresult is bleeding inside the brain thatcan be difficult to stop.

'Mini-Stroke' (TIA)

A transient ischemic attack, oftencalled a "mini-stroke," is more like aclose call. Blood flow is temporarilyimpaired to part of the brain, causingsymptoms similar to an actual stroke.When the blood flows again, thesymptoms disappear. A TIA is awarning sign that a stroke mayhappen soon. It's critical to see yourdoctor if you think you've had a TIA.There are therapies to reduce the riskof stroke.

What Causes a Stroke

A common cause of stroke isatherosclerosis -- hardening of thearteries. Plaque made of fat,cholesterol, calcium, and othersubstances builds up in the arteries,leaving less space for blood to flow.A blood clot may lodge in this narrowspace and cause an ischemic stroke.Atherosclerosis also makes it easierfor a clot to form. Hemorrhagicstrokes often result from uncontrolledhigh blood pressure that causes aweakened artery to burst.



Risk Factors: ChronicConditions

Certain chronic conditions increaseyour risk of stroke. These include:

High blood pressureHigh cholesterolDiabetesObesity

Taking steps to control theseconditions may reduce your risk.

Risk Factors: Behaviors

Certain behaviors also increase therisk of stroke:

SmokingGetting too little exerciseHeavy use of alcohol

Risk Factors: Diet

A poor diet may increase the risk forstroke in a few significant ways.Eating too much fat and cholesterolcan lead to arteries that are narrowedby plaque. Too much salt maycontribute to high blood pressure.And too many calories can lead toobesity. A diet high in fruits,vegetables, whole grains, and fishmay help lower stroke risk.



Risk Factors You Can'tControl

Some stroke risk factors are beyondyour control, such as getting older orhaving a family history of strokes.Gender plays a role, too, with menbeing more likely to have a stroke.However, more stroke deaths occurin women. Finally, race is animportant risk factor. African-Americans, Native Americans, andAlaskan Natives are at greater riskcompared to people of otherethnicities.

Stroke: EmergencyTreatment

For an ischemic stroke, emergencytreatment focuses on medicine torestore blood flow. A clot-bustingmedication is highly effective atdissolving clots and minimizing long-term damage, but it must be givenwithin three hours of the onset ofsymptoms. Hemorrhagic strokes aremore difficult to manage. Treatmentusually involves attempting to controlhigh blood pressure, bleeding, andbrain swelling.

Stroke: Long-TermDamage

Whether a stroke causes long-termdamage depends on its severity andhow quickly treatment stabilizes thebrain. The type of damage dependson where in the brain the strokeoccurs. Common problems after astroke include numbness in the armsor legs, difficulty walking, visionproblems, trouble swallowing, andproblems with speech andcomprehension. These problems canbe permanent, but many peopleregain most of their abilities.



Stroke Rehab: SpeechTherapy

Rehabilitation is the centerpiece ofthe stroke recovery process. It helpspatients regain lost skills and learn tocompensate for damage that can't beundone. The goal is to help restoreas much independence as possible.For people who have troublespeaking, speech and languagetherapy is essential. A speechtherapist can also help patients whohave trouble swallowing.

Stroke Rehab: PhysicalTherapy

Muscle weakness, as well as balanceproblems, are very common after astroke. This can interfere with walkingand other daily activities. Physicaltherapy is an effective way to regainstrength, balance, and coordination.For fine motor skills, such as using aknife and fork, writing, and buttoninga shirt, occupational therapy canhelp.

Stroke Rehab: TalkTherapy

It's common for stroke survivors andtheir loved ones to experience a widerange of intense emotions, such asfear, anger, worry, and grief. Apsychologist or mental healthcounselor can provide strategies forcoping with these emotions. Atherapist can also watch for signs ofdepression, which frequently strikespeople who are recovering from astroke.



Stroke Prevention:Lifestyle

People who have had a stroke or TIAcan take steps to prevent arecurrence:

Quit smoking.Exercise and maintain a healthyweight.Limit alcohol and salt intake.Eat a healthier diet with moreveggies, fish, and whole grains.

Stroke Prevention:Medications

For people with a high risk of stroke,doctors often recommendmedications to lower this risk. Anti-platelet medicines, including aspirin,keep platelets in the blood fromsticking together and forming clots.Anti-clotting drugs, such as warfarin,may be needed to help ward offstroke in some patients. Finally, ifyou have high blood pressure, yourdoctor will prescribe medication tolower it.

Stroke Prevention:Surgery

In some cases, a stroke results froma narrowed carotid artery -- the bloodvessels that travel up each side ofthe neck to bring blood to the brain.People who have had a mild strokeor TIA due to this problem maybenefit from surgery known as carotidendarterectomy. This procedureremoves plaque from the lining of thecarotid arteries and can preventadditional strokes.



Stroke Prevention:Balloon and Stent

Doctors can also treat a cloggedcarotid artery without major surgery insome cases. The procedure, calledangioplasty, involves temporarilyinserting a catheter into the arteryand inflating a tiny balloon to widenthe area that is narrowed by plaque.A metal tube, called a stent, can beinserted and left in place to keep theartery open.

Reviewed by Varnada Karriem-Norwood, MD on September 01, 2011

Sources:

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REFERENCES:

American Heart AssociationCenters for Disease Control and PreventionNational Institutes of HealthNational Stroke AssociationThe Stroke Association

This tool does not provide medical advice. See additional information:

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Stroke Pictures_ Signs and Causes of Strokes and Mini Strokes