Your brain requires a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients from blood, which is delivered by your arteries; without oxygen or nutrients, your brain cells may die  and the affected area may suffer permanent damage.

Stroke is a medical emergency which occurs as a result of poor blood flow to the brain due to a blocked blood vessel(ischemic stroke) or bleeding in the brain(hemorrhagic stroke) preventing oxygen from reaching the brain and causing brain cells to die quickly.

What causes stroke?

These individuals are more likely to have a stroke.

• Family history: Stroke risk is higher in some families because of genetic health issues, such as high blood pressure, diabetes etc.
• Diet: unhealthy diet is bad for your health. Consuming too much salts, unhealthy fats (trans fat, saturated fat) also increases your risk.
• Inactive: Lack of exercise also increase your risk for stroke.
• Race: Africans and African Americans have a higher risk than other race.
• Alcohol: Too much alcohol consumption puts you at risk. Alcohol should be taking in moderation especially in women.
• Obesity: People with BMI of 30 is at higher risk of getting stroke.
• Sex: Men are more likely to get stroke than women. However, stroke is deadlier in women than in men. This may be because strokes are most common in older adults, and women usually live longer than men.
• Age: As you gets older your risk of getting stroke increases.
• Smoking tobacco puts you at higher risk.
• Some medical conditions like Diabetes, Hypertension, sickle cell anemia, high lipidemia, heart valve defect, irregular heart beat.

What are the types of stroke?

There are three types of Stroke

• Ischemic stroke: This is the most common type of stroke, making up 90% of all cases. A blood clot prevents blood and oxygen from reaching an area of the brain.
• Hemorrhagic stroke: This occurs when a blood vessel ruptures. These are usually the result of aneurysms.
• Transient ischemic attack (TIA): This occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is inadequate for a brief period of time. Normal blood flow resumes after a short amount of time, and the symptoms resolve without treatment.

What are the symptoms of stroke?

• Severe, sudden headache
• Numbness or weakness in the arm, face, and leg, especially on one side of the body
• Trouble speaking or understanding speech
• Paralysis
• Confusion
• Slurring speech
• Dizziness
• Vision problems, such as trouble seeing in one or both eyes with vision blackened or blurred, or double vision
• Loss of balance or coordination

Always remember that a stroke is a medical emergency. The longer it takes to receive treatment, the more likely there will be brain damage as a result of the stroke.

How is a stroke treated?

Ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes are treated differently since they have different causes and effects on the body. Treatments for stroke include medicines, surgery, and rehabilitation

• Ischemic stroke ,medication is giving to help dissolve a clot and restore blood flow. A surgical procedure is done to remove a blood clot that doesn’t dissolve, or remove plaque in a blocked artery.
• hemorrhagic strokes, a surgical procedure needs to be done to stop the bleed. Surgery can repair a weak or damaged blood vessel, remove blood from the brain, and reduce pressure in the brain.

Other Medications are also giving to control the occurrence of another stroke and also treat any underlying medical conditions

Stroke rehabilitation is an important aspect of the recovery process following a stroke. It improves your strength, coordination, endurance, and self-esteem. One of the primary goals of stroke therapy is to assist you in learning how to live with the effects of the stroke. This will allow you to be as self-sufficient as possible. Physical treatment, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and swallowing therapy may all be included. Your doctor will determine what type of rehabilitation will be beneficial to you. Rehabilitation can begin as soon as you have recovered from your stroke and are stable. In many cases, it begins in the hospital within 24 to 48 hours of a stroke. After a stroke, most patients require months or years of rehabilitation.

Stroke complications

A stroke can sometimes cause temporary or permanent disabilities, depending on how long the brain lacks blood flow and which part was affected. Complications may include:

• seizures
• loss of bladder and bowel control
• Paralysis or loss of muscle movement. You may become paralyzed on one side of your body, or lose control of certain muscles.
• Difficulty talking or swallowing. A stroke might affect control of the muscles in your mouth and throat, making it difficult for you to talk clearly, swallow or eat.
• Memory loss or thinking difficulties. Many people who have had strokes experience some memory loss. Others may have difficulty thinking, reasoning, making judgments and understanding simple things
• Depression. 
• Pain. Pain, numbness or other unusual sensations may occur in the parts of the body affected by stroke.

Can stroke be prevented?

• Regular exercise
• Quit smoking
• Reduce your alcohol intake.
• Control your blood pressure.
• Control your cholesterol.
• Cut down on salts
• Maintain a healthy weight.

Women are more likely than men to die from a stroke, so it’s important to be able to identify a stroke as soon as possible. 

The sooner a person receives treatment for a stroke, the less damage is likely to happen.

When should you see a doctor?

Remember FAST if you think someone might be having a stroke:

• Face drooping
• Arm weakness
• Speech difficulty
• Time to call the ambulance