Knowing Stroke : Symptoms, Cause and Risk Factors

Stroke is a condition that occurs when blood supply to the brain is disrupted or decreased due to blockage (ischemic stroke) or rupture of blood vessels (hemorrhagic stroke). Without blood, the brain will not get oxygen and nutrients, so cells in some areas of the brain will die. This condition causes the body parts that are controlled by damaged areas of the brain can not function properly.

A stroke is a medical emergency because brain cells can die in just minutes. Rapid action measures can minimize the extent of brain damage and possible complications. Stroke is the number 1 killer in the world, more than 15% of deaths in the world caused by stroke.

Symptoms of Stroke

Each part of the body is controlled by different parts of the brain, so that the symptoms of stroke depend on the part of the brain affected and the extent of damage. The symptoms or signs of stroke vary from person to person, but generally appear suddenly. There are 3 main symptoms of stroke that are easy to remember, namely:

• The face will look down on one side and unable to smile because the mouth or eyes droop.
• People with symptoms of a stroke can not lift one arm because it feels weak or numb. Not only the arms, the legs that are one side with the arms also experience weakness.
• Speech is not clear, chaotic, or even unable to speak at all even though the patient looks conscious.

In addition, there are some other symptoms and signs of stroke that may appear, among others:

• Nausea and vomiting.
• Severe headaches that come suddenly, accompanied by stiff neck and dizziness spin (vertigo).
• Loss of consciousness.
• Difficult swallowing (dysphagia), resulting in choking.
• Disturbance on balance and coordination.
• Sudden loss of vision or double vision.

Causes of Stroke

Based on the cause, there are two types of stroke, namely:

• Ischemic stroke. About 80% stroke is a type of ischemic stroke. Ischemic stroke occurs when arterial blood vessels that carry blood and oxygen to the brain are constricted or obstructed, causing a very reduced blood flow to the brain. This condition is also called ischemia. Ischemic stroke can be divided into 2 types, including:

1. Thrombotic stroke, a stroke that occurs when blood clots form in one of the artery blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. The formation of blood clots is caused by fat deposits or plaque that accumulate in the arteries (atherosclerosis) and cause decreased blood flow.
2. Embolic strokes, which are strokes that occur when blood clots or clots form in other parts of the body, generally the heart, are carried through the bloodstream and are stuck in the brain's blood vessels, causing the arteries to narrow. This type of blood clot is called the embolus. One of the heart rhythm disturbances, namely atrial fibrillation, often causes an embolic stroke.

• Hemorrhagic Stroke. Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when blood vessels in the brain rupture and cause bleeding. Bleeding in the brain can be triggered by several conditions that affect blood vessels. These conditions include: Uncontrolled hypertension, Weakening of the blood vessel wall (brain aneurysm), Treatment with anticoagulants (blood thinners). There are two types of hemorrhagic stroke, among others:

1. Intracerebral hemorrhage. In intracerebral hemorrhage, the blood vessels in the brain rupture and spill the contents into the surrounding brain tissue, thus damaging the brain cells.
2. Subarachnoid hemorrhage. In subarachnoid hemorrhage, arterial blood vessels near the surface of the brain, rupture and spill its contents into the subarachnoid cavity, which is the space between the surface of the brain and the skull.

Stroke Risk Factors

There are several factors that can increase the risk of stroke. In addition to stroke, the risk factors below can also increase the risk of heart attack. These factors include:

• Health factors, which include: Hypertension; Diabetes; High cholesterol; Obesity; Heart disease, such as heart failure, congenital heart disease, heart infection, or arrhythmia; Sleep apnea; Never had a TIA or previous heart attack.
• Lifestyle factors, which include: Smoking; Lack of exercise or physical activity; Consumption of illegal drugs; Alcoholism.
• Other factors associated with stroke risk include: heredity. If a family member has had a stroke, then the risk of stroke is also higher; Age. With age, a person has a higher risk of stroke than younger people.

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