- There are
two major causes of a stroke:
-
- Blockage of a blood vessel (in the brain or
neck) caused by:
- a blood clot in the
brain or neck (this is called a thrombosis)
- a blood clot from somewhere
else that has moved and now blocks a blood vessel in the brain or
neck (this is called an embolism)
- constriction or narrowing
of an artery in the head or neck (this is called a stenosis)
- Bleeding of a blood vessel (this is called
hemorrhagic stroke)
-
- There are several
warning signs that occur with a brain attack:
- Sudden weakness or numbness
of the face, arm, or leg on one side of the body.
- Sudden dimness or loss
of vision, particularly in one eye.
- Sudden difficulty speaking
or trouble understanding speech.
- Sudden severe headache
with no known cause.
- Unexplained dizziness,
unsteadiness, or sudden falls,
especially with any of the other signs.
-
- There are
several conditions linked to stroke:
- High blood pressure - Eat
a balanced diet, maintain a healthy weight, and exercise to reduce blood
pressure. Drugs are also available.
- Cigarette smoking -
Don't start smoking and if you do smoke, quit!
- Heart disease -
Your doctor will treat your heart disease and may also prescribe medication
to help prevent the formation of clots.
- Diabetes - Treatment can delay complications
that increase the risk of stroke.
- Transient ischemic attacks
- These are brief episodes of stroke's warning signs and can be treated
with drugs or surgery.
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