‘BRAIN ATTACK’ Five simple ways to detect looming stroke

By Sola Ogundipe, Health Editor

A stroke is a “brain attack”. It can happen to anyone at any time and in any place. It occurs when blood flow to an area of brain is interrupted or severely reduced or even cut off. When this happens, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and begin to die. When brain cells die during a stroke, abilities controlled by that area of the brain such as memory and muscle control are lost. For all practical purposes, a stroke is a medical emergency and prompt treatment is crucial. Early action can minimize brain damage and potential complications.

A stroke happens every 40 seconds, every 4 minutes someone dies from stroke yet up to 80 percent of strokes can be prevented.

How a person is affected by stroke depends on where the stroke occurs in the brain and how much the brain is damaged. For example, someone who had a small stroke may only have minor problems such as temporary weakness of an arm or leg. People who have larger strokes may be permanently paralyzed on one side of their body or lose their ability to speak. Some people recover completely from strokes, but more than two thirds of all survivors will have some type of disability.

Common symptoms

If you think you or someone else may be having a stroke, time is of essence. Note when at least five signs and symptoms begin, because the length of time they have been present may guide treatment decisions.

Trouble with speaking and understanding – Confusion, slurring or words or have difficulty understanding speech are typical symptoms.

Paralysis or numbness of the face, arm or leg may occur suddenly, especially on one side of the body. Try to raise both arms over your head at the same time. If one arm begins to fall, you may be having a stroke. Similarly, one side of your mouth may droop when you try to smile.

Trouble with seeing in one or both eyes – Sudden blurred or blackened vision in one or both eyes, or seeing double are typical danger signs.

Headache – A sudden, severe headache, which may be accompanied by vomiting, dizziness or altered consciousness, may indicate a stroke.

Trouble with walking – Stumbling or experiencing sudden dizziness, loss of balance or loss of coordination.

Causes

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted or reduced. This deprives your brain of oxygen and nutrients, which can cause your brain cells to die.

A stroke may be caused by a blocked artery (ischemic stroke) or the leaking or bursting of a blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke). Some people may experience only a temporary disruption of blood flow to their brain (known as Transient Ischemic Attack, or TIA).

Types of stroke

About 85 percent of strokes are ischemic strokes that occur when the arteries to the brain become narrowed or blocked, causing severely reduced blood flow (ischemia).

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) — also known as a mini-stroke — is a brief period of symptoms similar to those you’d have in a stroke. A temporary decrease in blood supply to part of the brain causes TIAs, which often last less than five minutes.

Like an ischemic stroke, a TIA occurs when a clot or debris blocks blood flow to part of your brain. A TIA doesn’t leave lasting symptoms because the blockage is temporary.

Seek emergency care even if symptoms seem to clear up. Having a TIA puts you at greater risk of having a full-blown stroke, causing permanent damage later. If you’ve had a TIA, it means there’s likely a partially blocked or narrowed artery leading to your brain or a clot source in the heart.

It’s not possible to tell if you’re having a stroke or a TIA based only on your symptoms. Up to half of people whose symptoms appear to go away actually have had a stroke causing brain damage.

Risk factors

Many factors can increase risk of a stroke. Some factors can also increase your chances of having a heart attack: Being overweight or obese; physical inactivity; heavy or binge drinking and use of illicit drugs. Medical risk factors include high blood pressure — the risk of stroke begins to increase at blood pressure readings higher than 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Cigarette smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke, high cholesterol, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea — a sleep disorder in which the oxygen level intermittently drops during the night. Others are cardiovascular disease, including heart failure, heart defects, heart infection or abnormal heart rhythm.

Also associated with a higher risk of stroke are factors that include personal or family history of stroke, heart attack or transient ischemic attack; being age 55 or older, race — African-Americans have a higher risk of stroke than do people of other races, gender — men have a higher risk of stroke than women who are usually older when they have stroke, and they’re more likely to die of stroke than are men. Also, women may have some risk from some birth control pills or hormone therapies that include estrogen, as well as from pregnancy and childbirth.

When to see a doctor

Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the mentioned signs or symptoms even if they seem to fluctuate or disappear.

Think “FAST”

If a person is having a stroke, do the following: Face – Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

Arms – Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? Or is one arm unable to raise up?

Speech – Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is his or her speech slurred or strange?

Time – If you observe any of these signs, call emergency immediately. Don’t wait to see if symptoms go away. Every minute counts. The longer a stroke goes untreated, the greater the potential for brain damage and disability. If you’re with someone you suspect is having a stroke, watch the person carefully while waiting for emergency assistance.

Complications

A stroke can sometimes cause temporary or permanent disabilities, depending on how long the brain lacks blood flow and which part was affected. Complications may include paralysis or loss of muscle movement. You may become paralyzed on one side of your body, or lose control of certain muscles, such as those on one side of your face or one arm.

A stroke may cause less control over the way the muscles in the mouth and throat move, making it difficult to talk clearly, swallow or ea. You also may have difficulty with language, including speaking or understanding speech, reading or writing.

Many people who have had strokes experience some memory loss. Others may have difficulty thinking, making judgments, reasoning and understanding concepts.

People who have had strokes may have more difficulty controlling their emotions, or they may develop depression and they may have pain, numbness or other strange sensations in parts of their bodies affected by stroke.

Stroke rehabilitation

Stroke rehabilitation (stroke rehab) is an important part of recovery after stroke. Find out what’s involved in stroke rehabilitation. The goal is to enable stroke patients relearn skills lost when stroke affected part of the brain. Stroke rehabilitation can help regain independence and improve quality of life.