What is a stroke? And is there any known way that helps prevent them?

Question

I was in hospital and met a group of men having had strokes...I am chilled at the thought of ever being in their situation. TRULY TERRORFIED.

Answer 1

Read what my2cents said. That's terrific advice. You can't allow yourself to live in fear of what might happen in the future when you take the steps necessary to have a healthy lifestyle. As far as baby aspirin are concerned, unless you're in a high risk category for strokes or heart problems, you shouldn't self-medicate. While the aspirin is indeed helpful to people who have a history of problems, or conditions that indicate you should take it, the risks of taking aspirin preventively in this way outweigh the possible benefits. In an otherwise healthy person, studies have shown that the risk of aspirin induced gastrointestinal bleeding outweighs the benefit in reducing possible future CVAs.

A MedSurfer review said:
Aspirin decreases the incidence of coronary heart disease in adults who are at increased risk for heart disease. There is also good evidence that aspirin increases the incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding and fair evidence that aspirin increases the incidence of hemorrhagic strokes. There is no evidence of MI prevention with low dose aspirin in general population with no risk factors.

The bottom line is eat healthy, get exercise, keep your salt and cholesterol intake under control, and have regular medical check ups.

Answer 2

Aren't we all. A stroke is caused when something blocks an artery preventing blood from getting to the rest of the body, especially the brain.

Though heredity plays a major role, so does diet. Preventative measures are having a doctor check your heart and other circulatory issues out, including cholesterol levels, HDL and LDL, etc. Eating a heart healthy diet low in fats and sugars. Keeping your weight down. Exercising regularly.

A stroke does not mean you have to be debilitated because new medications can be given if the stroke is caught within hours and there are quick procedures to clear the blockage.

All you can do is live the healthiest life possible and know what your family history is, trusting your family doctor will guide you toward remaining stroke and heart attack free.

Answer 3

In the simplest terms, a stroke is a "heart attack of the brain" A Myocardio Infarction is a "heart attack - caused by the lack of blood flowing to it as a result of blocked arteries. These arteries get blocked with plaque, calcium deposits, or blood clots. While of course the brain has nothing to do with the heart, when starved of blood, parts of it die. A stroke is usually caused by blood a blood clot in the brain. When caught early enough some strokes are reversible when the doctor administers medication to dissolve the clot. I heard that anyone over 30 should be taking an aspirin a day because it thins the blood and thus helps in preventing a stroke. While some people recommend a "baby aspirin" (81mg) - others take the regular strength (325mg). I take 500 mg per day because I have heart disease in my family; (heart disease and strokes = somethings blocked somewhere). I've been told by friends and family that I'm crazy for taking 500mg per day but my doctor said it was fine.

Answer 4

There are 2 kinds of stroke. I will explain each of them.

Hemorrhagic stoke...this is also referred to as a brain bleed. They can be caused by a number of things but most typically are caused by a ruptured aneurysm (a burst blood vessel) in the brain. They are often fatal. Hemorrhagic strokes are known to happen with NO prior warning. A person might just complain of "the worst headache ever" and hit the ground.

Thrombolytic stroke...this is a stroke that is caused by a blood clot. A clot can form anywhere in the body and end up in the brain. A thrombolytic stroke can be treated but there is a very narrow window during which it can be treated. The window is 3 HOURS FROM THE ONSET OF SYMPTOMS. In order to treat it, a CT scan must be done to confirm that the stroke was caused by a clot so blood thinning agents can be given (often called tPA or tissue plasminogen activator).

TPA CANNOT BE GIVEN TO SOMEONE WITH A HEMORRHAGIC STROKE...IT WOULD KILL THEM.

The usual signs of a stroke are loss of function on one side of the body, altered mental status, loss of consciousness, unequal pupil size and a sudden severe headache with no known cause.

Time is of the essence. If you begin to experience these symptoms, call 911 immediately. Remember the window...3 hours is not much time.

Answer 5

Your fear is understandable. In a stroke, a portion of the brain doesn't get enough oxygen. This is caused by narrowing of the arteries so the blood doesn't get to the brain, or because of plaques that build-up because of cardiovascular disease. But, something prevents blood (which carries oxygen) from getting to part of the brain.

Either way, to PREVENT strokes and the complications that you saw that 'truly terrified' you, (and understandably so), it's mandatory that your manage ANY hypertension, obesity or cardiovascular disease.

Because a stroke kills (ischemia) the surrounding tissues (and these tissues are in the brain), many of the complications are neurologic. Many can't swallow or speak, have seizures or have poor muscle control.

Strokes are so sad to see, because so many of them can be prevented; TREAT any high blood pressure or cardiovascular problems.

Hope I've helped and not scared you more.

Answer 6

A stroke or "brain attack" occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery (a blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the body) or a blood vessel (a tube through which the blood moves through the body) breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain. When either of these things happen, brain cells begin to die and brain damage occurs.

PREVENTIONS
Control your blood pressure. Have your blood pressure checked often, and, if needed, take measures to lower it. Lowering high blood pressure reduces the risk for both stroke and heart disease.

Stop smoking. Cigarette smoking is linked to increased risk for a stroke. Research indicates that the risk of stroke for people who have quit smoking for 2-5 years is lower than people who still smoke.

Exercise regularly. Common sense dictates that moderate exercise makes the heart stronger and improves circulation. It also helps control weight. Being overweight increases the chance of high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, heart disease, and adult-onset (type 2) diabetes. Moderate physical activities like walking, jumping on a mini-trampoline, cycling, yoga, swimming, and yard work lower the risk of both stroke and heart disease.

Eat a healing diet. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables. Juicing is an excellent and delicious way to include raw foods in your diet.
If you are diabetic, control your diabetes. If left untreated, diabetes can damage the blood vessels throughout the body and lead to atherosclerosis

Answer 7

A stroke i.e. CVA- cerebral vascular accident. blood flow is stopped to the brain by a blocked artey or even a anneurism which means the vessel blows. ways to prevent.. baby aspirin a day any thing to lessen the chance of blood clots exercise healthy overall life style.. this is just the jist of it

Answer 8

Daily good habits can help prevent strokes. One that I use is daily tea--green, oolong, and black tea.
There are many large, and long-term research studies that show up to 65% strokes prevented with daily green tea and up to 75% strokes prevented with daily black tea.
It's an inexpensive habit and may help.

Answer 9

Diabetes is usually treated through a combination of diet (low sugar), exercise and medications/insulin. Read here https://tr.im/S4PB1
Milder cases can be controlled with just diet an/or exercise while more severe cases require meds or insulin as well.

Answer 10

they are all different and happen for different reasons and have different outcomes but the basic thing is there is a blockage or lapse of blood flow in the brain.....a baby asprin a day or even moderate drinking (blood thinning) are known to be of help, tumeric the spice, is also said to have blood thinning properties...(people who eat a lot of indian food have less strokes......) easiest way is to take a baby asprin a day.....stop worrying.....it'll give you a sroke!!!!!!!!!!!!