| Stroke or cerebrovascular accident (cva) is a condition | | | | strokes are the same and a stroke can manifest itself |
| affecting the blood vessels of the brain. | | | | in a variety of symptoms. The most common |
| There are several types of stroke and each type has | | | | symptoms include:o Confusiono Loss of visiono |
| different causes. The two main types of stroke are | | | | Difficulty in speaking and understanding speecho |
| listed below: | | | | Difficulty in swallowingo Muscle weakness and |
| Ischaemic Stroke | | | | changes in sensation typically down one side of the |
| An Ischaemic stroke is normally caused by a clot or | | | | bodyo Loss of coordination and balance |
| other blockage in an artery in the brain, which disrupts | | | | Who gets a stroke? |
| blood flow to different regions of the brain. Brain cells | | | | The latest data indicates that approximately 110,000 |
| require a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients | | | | strokes (cerebrovascular accidents) occur each year |
| from the blood to keep working and so if an artery | | | | in the UK. Stroke is the leading cause of severe |
| remains blocked for longer than a few minutes brain | | | | disability with more than 250,000 people living with |
| cells can die leading to brain damage. An Ischaemic | | | | disabilities caused by stroke. Whilst stroke can affect |
| stroke is by far the most common type of stroke | | | | people at all stages of life the risk of stroke increases |
| (80% of cases). Ischaemic stroke can further be | | | | with age. The majority of strokes occur over the age |
| divided into two main types: thrombotic and embolic. A | | | | of 60 years and strokes are more common in men |
| thrombotic infarct occurs when a blood clot forms in | | | | than women. There are a number of conditions and |
| an artery that supplies blood to the brain. An embolic | | | | lifestyle choices that can put you at a greater risk of |
| infarct occurs when a blood clot (embolism) travels | | | | getting a stroke including: |
| from another part of the body and blocks one of the | | | | Conditionso High blood pressure (Hypertension)o |
| blood vessels in the brain. | | | | Diabeteso Heart disease |
| Intracerebral Haemorrhage | | | | Lifestyle choiceso Smokingo Obesity and high |
| An intracerebral haemorrhage is a type of stroke | | | | cholesterol dietso Physical inactivity |
| caused by bleeding in the brain. A damaged blood | | | | What is the prognosis after stroke? |
| vessel can burst leading to a leakage of blood inside | | | | A large number of people who suffer from a stroke |
| the brain. An increase in pressure within the brain can | | | | recover functional independence. However, a |
| lead to damage in areas of the brain surrounding the | | | | significant minority of sufferers (between 15 and 30%) |
| increased pressure. Hemorrhagic strokes are less | | | | suffer from some form of permanent disability. |
| common than ischaemic strokes and constitute about | | | | Factors Affecting Recurrence |
| 12% of all strokes. A subarachnoid haemorrhage also | | | | It is sometimes forgotten that once people have |
| involves bleeding in the brain but this time the location | | | | suffered a stroke they are prone to another stroke in |
| of the bleeding leads to blood filling the space | | | | the future. The risk is highest in the first few weeks |
| surrounding the brain. The build up of pressure outside | | | | and months after stroke and so preventative |
| the brain can cause damage to different areas of the | | | | measures need to be taken early after the first stroke. |
| brain and may a cause rapid loss of consciousness. | | | | It is important that a secondary prevention programme |
| What are the symptoms of a stroke? | | | | is developed with the help of your medical practitioner. |
| The important thing to remember is that no two | | | | |