Brain Stroke: Types, Symptoms, Risk Factors and Prevention

Stroke is taking over cardiac and cancer diseases to be the leading cause of death and disability. A brain stroke occurs when blood flow to an area in the brain is interrupted. Deprived of the much needed oxygen and glucose, the brain cells die. If not caught early, a stroke can lead to permanent brain damage or death.

Common Types of Strokes

Ischemic stroke – Responsible for over 80% stroke cases in India, it occurs due to blockage or the formation of a clot in blood vessel of the brain – kind of like a heart attack. The blockage or clot in blood vessels could be caused by fatty deposits in the linings of the blood vessels.Hemorrhagic stroke - Responsible for over 17% strokes in India, it is caused by ruptured blood vessels, leading to bleeding in the brain. Transient Ischemic stroke (TIA) - It is also called a mini-stroke and is a temporary condition. It may last for a few minutes or a day, showing temporary symptoms. TIA is also caused by the formation of a blood clot.

Don’t Overlook Brain Stroke Symptoms

General symptoms include:

• Weakness or numbness in the face, arm, leg, or on one side of the body
• Loss of speech, difficulty in speaking, difficulty in understanding speech
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Dizziness or sudden headache
• Loss of vision or dimming vision
• Loss of coordination and balance
• Loss of consciousness
• Vomiting and nausea

Controllable Risk Factors

• High blood pressure
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Obesity
• Heart disease
• Blood disorders and severe anaemia
• Smoking
• Drug abuse
• Excessive intake of alcohol

Brain Stroke Prevention

Nearly 50% of all cases of strokes are preventable. The list of controllable risk factors can be addressed and checked before they lead to an eventuality of a stroke. Preventing a stroke also means healthy alterations to your lifestyle in addition to health monitoring with regular health checks. [av_promobox button='yes' label='Book your Appointment Now' link='https://www.medibuddy.in/?utm_source=blog_cta&utm_medium=blog' link_target='' color='blue' custom_bg='#f00' custom_font='#ffffff' size='large' icon_select='no' icon='ue800' font='entypo-fontello']MediBuddy can assist you with all your health monitoring and screening needs by connecting you with medical specialists and service providers closest to you.[/av_promobox]