let's talk about strokes!
What are strokes?
A stroke is when there is blood flow that is blocked or damaged in the brain. This can cause temporary or permanent damage or death.
Strokes are the #5 cause of death in the United States.
795,000 people have a stroke each year.
Out of that number, 142,000 people die from those strokes every year.
ischemic STROKE:
87% of strokes are these, making it the most common kind. This is the narrowing of brain blood vessel's causing a blockage that cuts off blood supply.
This prevents the body from obtaining oxygen and the necessary nutrients needed to function.
hemORRHAGIC STROKE:
13% of strokes are this kind.
This happens when a blood vessel inside the brain breaks and it causes bleeding. The bleeding could happen within the brain or between the tissue layers of the coverings in the brain. (hemorrhage)
TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK (TIA):
A TIA, as most call it, is a temporary blocking of the flow of the blood into the brain. This is usually called a “mini stroke” as it doesn’t last for more than 5 minutes approximately. TIA is also considered more of warning sign that a complete stroke could happen.
Cryptogenic stroke
This is a stroke where the cause is unknown. Due to the unknown of the cause of this particular stroke, it is very important for medical professionals to run test and exams to determine the possible reasoning behind this kind of stroke. Some reason might be due to heart deformities, irregular heartbeat rhythm (atrial fibrillation) or a blood clotting disorder.
For am ischemic stroke to occur, two problems in the blood vessels of the brain need to happen:
- Embolic stroke: a blood clot from the heart or from the neck becomes present in the brain.
- Thrombotic stroke: a blood clot forms in the arteries that provide blood into the brain.
WHO DOES IT AFFECT?
- Typically, strokes are more prevalent in people who are 65 and older. But, even babies or children can suffer from this.
- Women suffer from strokes more than men, and they are also more likely to die from this stroke in comparison to men. One of the major reasons why is because of the fact that women tend to live longer years than men.
- Having a prior stroke, is a heavy factor on a possible one happening again.
- Sometimes, due to past family history with strokes, one could be at a greater risk. Strokes can sometimes be passed due to genetic disorders.
- African-Americans have the higher risk of stroke percentage. This goes back to where racism and society still played a part in the medical field, leaving African-Americans to have a higher rate in obesity, blood pressure and obesity. The Hispanic population is also at major risk due to the lack of education and language barrier about strokes. (American Stroke Association, 2018)