how do people get strokes?

Question

a friend of mine lost her husband from this,they were homeless & she thinks he had a stroke from them being homeless.she told me the hardest part was,she had to give permission for the doctors to pull the life support. :(
now shes a single mother raising 5 kids.
:(

Answer 1

I am soo sorry your friend lost her husband due to a stroke. :( My thoughts and prayers are with them.

A stroke, or "brain attack," occurs when blood circulation to the brain fails. Brain cells can die from decreased blood flow and the resulting lack of oxygen. There are two broad categories of stroke: those caused by a blockage of blood flow and those caused by bleeding. While not usually fatal, a blockage of a blood vessel in the brain or neck, called an ischemic stroke, is the most frequent cause of stroke and is responsible for about 80 percent of strokes. These blockages stem from three conditions: the formation of a clot within a blood vessel of the brain or neck, called thrombosis; the movement of a clot from another part of the body such as the heart to the neck or brain, called embolism; or a severe narrowing of an artery in or leading to the brain, called stenosis. Bleeding into the brain or the spaces surrounding the brain causes the second type of stroke, called hemorrhagic stroke.

Two key steps you can take will lower your risk of death or disability from stroke: know stroke's warning signs and control stroke's risk factors. Scientific research conducted by the NINDS has identified warning signs and a large number of risk factors.

My stroke was caused from a clotting disorder called Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome.

Chances are your friend had some risk factors for stroke such as what I have listed below and then add in the stress of being homeless and trying to find a place for his family just was too much on him:

*High blood pressure. Also called hypertension, this is by far the most potent risk factor for stroke. If your blood pressure is high, you and your doctor need to work out an individual strategy to bring it down to the normal range. Some ways that work: Maintain proper weight. Avoid drugs known to raise blood pressure. Cut down on salt. Eat fruits and vegetables to increase potassium in your diet. Exercise more. Your doctor may prescribe medicines that help lower blood pressure. Controlling blood pressure will also help you avoid heart disease, diabetes, and kidney failure.

*Cigarette smoking. Cigarette smoking has been linked to the buildup of fatty substances in the carotid artery, the main neck artery supplying blood to the brain. Blockage of this artery is the leading cause of stroke in Americans. Also, nicotine raises blood pressure; carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen your blood can carry to the brain; and cigarette smoke makes your blood thicker and more likely to clot. Your doctor can recommend programs and medications that may help you quit smoking. By quitting, at any age, you also reduce your risk of lung disease, heart disease, and a number of cancers including lung cancer.

*Heart disease. Common heart disorders such as coronary artery disease, valve defects, irregular heart beat, and enlargement of one of the heart's chambers can result in blood clots that may break loose and block vessels in or leading to the brain. The most common blood vessel disease, caused by the buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries, is called atherosclerosis. Your doctor will treat your heart disease and may also prescribe medication, such as aspirin, to help prevent the formation of clots. Your doctor may recommend surgery to clean out a clogged neck artery if you match a particular risk profile. If you are over 50, NINDS scientists believe you and your doctor should make a decision about aspirin therapy. A doctor can evaluate your risk factors and help you decide if you will benefit from aspirin or other blood-thinning therapy.

*Warning signs or history of stroke. If you experience a TIA, get help at once. Many communities encourage those with stroke's warning signs to dial 911 for emergency medical assistance. If you have had a stroke in the past, it's important to reduce your risk of a second stroke. Your brain helps you recover from a stroke by drawing on body systems that now do double duty. That means a second stroke can be twice as bad.

*Diabetes. You may think this disorder affects only the body's ability to use sugar, or glucose. But it also causes destructive changes in the blood vessels throughout the body, including the brain. Also, if blood glucose levels are high at the time of a stroke, then brain damage is usually more severe and extensive than when blood glucose is well-controlled. Treating diabetes can delay the onset of complications that increase the risk of stroke.

Answer 2

Blood clot. To put it simpler a blot clot hits the brain. If it hits the heart it is a heart attack. In a young person it is called a brain aneurysm which is a weakening of the artery and in an older person it is called a stroke. Please tell your friend a lot of times the damage can not be repaired and it is not her fault. It is very sad in today's society that there is still homelessness. My sympathies for your friend.

Answer 3

usually from arterial vascular disease in the brain. Sometimes a blood vessel will just burst and the next thing you know, you're paralyzed on one side of your body. It's very sad. However, if a person can get treatment right away, they can minimize the stroke damage.

Answer 4

From a blood clot blocking vessels in their brain and causing damage, or from a vein in their brain rupturing and bleeding out into the tissue surrounding it. Both incidents cause what we know as a stroke.

Answer 5

1

Answer 6

Stress can cause strokes sounds like he had alot on his plate.

Answer 7

i had one from a blood clot when i got in a car crash

Answer 8

blood clots