Not a long time ago doctors believed that stroke treatment would be useless because they considered that the brain cells die few minutes after a stroke. Nowadays researchers are convinced that whereas some cells of the brain may die, others could survive up to few days. As a result, stroke treatment is now available but the most important thing a person who is at risk of developing a brain stroke could do is to avoid the risk factors.

Avoiding or reducing the risk factors is mandatory for those who may develop this condition and it is also the first step in preventing the disease. High blood pressure and smoking are the first risk factors for a stroke that should be avoided. Also, patients who suffer of diabetes have greater chances to suffer from a stroke than those who do not have diabetes. Some medication such as warfarin can produce a stroke when the dosage is higher or smaller than the patient actually needs.
Stroke treatment may consist in tissue plasminogen activator or tPa in cases of strokes caused by blood clots which accounts for as much as 85% from all cases of strokes. The tissue plasminogen activator is used in order to dissolve the clot and then restore blood flow in the brain. This type of stroke treatment has an increased risk of causing bleeding in the brain but it was proved that when it is used correctly its benefits outweigh its risks. In order to be effective, treatment with tPa must be started within three hours from the time the stroke symptoms appear. This type of stroke treatment is recommended particularly for patients with hemorrhagic strokes.
Stroke treatment can also include medication such as aspirin or heparin which thin the blood. They are usually administrated in patients who suffered a stroke in order to improve their recovery. They are also used in order to prevent potential further strokes. Related to stroke American Heart Association published in 2007 a study in which the use of hyperbaric oxygen was suggested to be effective in treating patients suffering of acute ischemic stroke but a following review of the studies however did not find this type of treatment effective and as a result it is not used.
Given that some heart diseases such as atrial fibrillation or arrhythmia can contribute or lead to a stroke, in some cases stroke is treated by treating the underlying heart related conditions. Usually this means the administration of anti-clotting drugs or even heart surgery.
The carotid endarterectomy and the cerebral angioplasty are the two surgical procedures that can be performed in order to treat a stroke. The first is normally performed when the carotid artery from the neck is partially blocked by a plaque and its purpose is to remove the plaque. The latter is a surgical procedure that consists in treating blood vessels related problems.
Rehabilitation is the process in which the patient must regain his or her functional abilities. It usually takes place in a hospital or at a nursing facility. Depending on the severity of the case, the rehabilitation is the most important step in stroke treatment and it includes speech therapy (including learning talking and swallowing), occupational therapy (for regaining dexterity in the hands), physical therapy and family education.

Sometimes the stroke symptoms tend to be permanent as they are in a major stroke or, in some cases, they may be temporary. This is the case of a TIA or the transient ischemic attack. The stroke symptoms are the result of the death of the brain cells which implies that the particular area of the brain that has been deprived from blood and oxygen cease performing its tasks. The severity of the symptoms is related to the part of the brain that has been affected and also to the amount of damage that has been caused. However, some strokes may not have any symptoms and those are the so called “silent strokes”.

The United States National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) has established five major symptoms that a patient usually experiences when he or she is having a stroke. The stroke symptoms according to the NINDS are:

• Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg which normally occurs on one side of the body and it tends to be sudden and can be complete or partial. Some of the patients experience a feeling of tingling in the affected area.
• Most of the patients have felt suddenly confused and experienced problems in speaking or understanding the others. Sometimes the patients are drooling as a result of the weakness in the muscles of the face.
• Sudden vision trouble in one or both eyes.
• Sudden loss of balance, incapability to walk or feeling dizzy.
• Sudden severe headache with no apparent known cause.

The stroke symptoms listed above are also referred at as traditional stroke symptoms. It seems that women are more likely to experience the non-traditional stroke symptoms among of which the most common is the altered mental status. Researchers and scientists however have no explanation yet for the fact that women are more predisposed to develop non-traditional stroke symptoms which most of the time are not recognized early enough and delay the administration of the right treatment. This type of symptom also counts as a very early sign of recognition of the disease.

There are two types of stroke, classified based on the type of abnormality that causes it. If blood clots (thrombosis) deprives the brain from getting the supply of oxygen-rich blood that it needs the stroke is called ischemic. An ischemic stroke is may be caused by a cerebral thrombosis or a cerebral embolism. If the blood vessel ruptures and causes blood leaking into the brain the stroke is hemorrhagic. A hemorrhagic stroke can be caused by an aneurysm or an arteriovenous malformation (AVM). From all cases of stroke, the ischemic stroke accounts for 87%.

Regardless the type of stroke, the early recognition of the stroke symptoms is crucial for the patient’s chances of survival and recovery.

Strokes are very serious medical conditions and this is why it is very important for anyone who is at risk to be aware of the warning stroke signs. Strokes are a medical emergency and the patient has much better chances of treating it and recovery from it if he or she receives medical care as soon as the first stroke sign occur.

The stroke signs may vary depending on the part of the brain that the stroke affected. The most common stroke signs that patients may notice are the following:
• sudden weakness or numbness or the arms, legs and face on one side of the body. These may be complete or partial and sometimes are accompanied of a feeling of tingling on the affected parts of the body;
• some patients lose their speech or encounter problems in talking or understanding the others;
• loss of vision or dimness can occur, especially in only one eye;
• sudden falls, inability of standing steady and unexplained dizziness;
• loss of balance;
• confusion and sometimes weakness in the face muscles causing drooling;
• severe sudden headache with no apparent reason.

In some cases, patients may experience sort of “temporary strokes” which can occur any time before a major stroke. They are called transient ischemic attacks or simply TIAs and they are ones of the most important stroke signs because once a patient has suffered from a TIA is only a matter of time until he suffers a major stroke. Persons who suffer a TIA are 9.5 times more likely to develop a major stroke than the other persons of the same age and sex who did not experience a transient ischemic attack. The TIAs occur when an artery is temporarily blocked by a blood clot and a part of the brain does not get the needed supply of blood. The symptoms of a TIA can last from few minutes to few hours and are very similar to the major stroke’s symptoms but they never last more than 24 hours. Thus, the symptoms of a TIA are temporary.

When a person has a stroke time is crucial for his or her salvation so knowing what to do in case yourself or someone else has a stroke is very important. Any person who notices any of the signs and symptoms of a stroke should first seek medical attention and call 911 or the number that activates the emergency medical response in their area. If possible, a family doctor or a neurologist should be contacted while the ambulance in on its way. The person who is experiencing the symptoms should lie flat so the brain will get the optimal blood flow. In case of drowsiness, unresponsiveness or nausea the best is to place the person in the rescue position on their side because there is a risk of choking if vomiting occurs.

When someone is having a stroke, its administration is not recommended once the stroke signs appeared even if this medication plays a great role in preventing the disease.

Stroke recovery is one of the most difficult and important steps that occur after a patient has suffered from a stroke. Strokes are frightening experiences to get through and at some point, individuals who have been through a stroke may feel hopeless in what concerns rehabilitation and regaining their functions. Stroke recovery is possible but it hard work for the patient, the medical team involved in the process and the patient’s family. Most of the time, the patient’s family gets an educational therapy in which they are thought how to overcome what they will be facing.

Depending on the severity of the stroke some patients may remain with few minor disabilities that can be solved after rehabilitation but most of them need to undergo the full stroke recovery process in order to regain their functions. Stroke recovery may occur in nursing facilities, hospitals or specialized hospitals depending on the severity of the condition and the money the patient affords to spend on his or her rehabilitation. The Stroke American Heart Association has published a list of trusted physicians and hospitals that patients who need rehabilitation from stroke may contact. The list is published on their official website http://www.strokeassociation.org. Also, the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities is an international nonprofit body which has published a list of accredited rehabilitation facilities within the United States.

The main therapies included in a stroke recovery process are speech therapies which focus on teaching the patient to talk again and swallow (a common problem with which almost every patient fights after suffering a stroke) or physical therapies to improve the patient’s motor functions. Some patients lose their dexterity in their arm and hand and so they have to follow a therapy to regain their ability of making fine moves with the arm and hand. The muscle strength and coordination are reestablished through a strengthening motor skills therapy along with a mobility training therapy which focuses in learning how to use walking aids or canes in order to relearn how to walk. Sometimes, electrical stimulation is used to stimulate the weakened muscles in order to contract them.

Psychological therapy is common among the stroke patients due to the impact that the stroke and stroke recovery have on him or her. The patients undergoing rehabilitation from a stroke need especially the family support. It is very hard for them not only to be incapable of taking care of themselves but having to work so hard in order to do what they are supposed to do so they can regain their functions. Patients can become depressed and antidepressants are usually prescribed.
There is no doubt that stroke recovery is a very hard process to go through by both patients and their families.

Stroke prevention is what anyone who is at risk should do in order to avoid having a stroke. Stroke prevention implies avoiding the main risk factors. However, a part of these factors may be controlled by the individual but some others cannot such as age, gender, family history or history of stroke or TIAs. Among the risk factors that the patients can control are the blood pressure, the cholesterol levels, diabetes, obesity or being overweight, smoking or lack of physical activity. Individuals who are overweight or have diabetes have to at least try keeping under control the high blood pressure or high blood cholesterol and they certainly have to quit smoking or abusing alcohol (if that is the case). Stress is another risk factor for stroke and trying to avoid it is another step in stroke prevention.

Hypertension or high blood pressure which is not under control can cause permanent damage to the blood vessels or can accelerate the worsening of other medical conditions. Any individual who has a history of stroke and is at risk should be aware of his or her blood pressure and try keeping it under control by, as an example, having a lower sodium and lower fat diet. The general health condition is also important in stroke prevention. Daily physical activities along with stopping smoking or avoiding second hand smoking are strongly recommended because the small unhealthy things that people do every day are the same that kill them.

Most of the time the ischemic strokes are caused by the factors mentioned above. Hypertension or high blood cholesterol are the leading factors that cause abnormalities of the blood vessels so being aware of these risks and avoiding them is a very important step in stroke prevention.

Sometimes, strokes are caused by underlying heart diseases such as atrial fibrillation so it is mandatory to know if the individual has such heart problems. Abnormalities in the blood vessels such as narrowing or thinning can lead to a hemorrhagic stroke when parts of the brain are flooded with blood. The blood vessels most commonly affected are the arteries that supply the brain with blood.

Last but not least, anyone who thinks he or she may be in danger of suffering a stroke should know what the symptoms of a stroke are. Time is crucial when it comes to treating a stroke and most of the time in saving the patient’s life. Some strokes have no symptoms and they are called silent strokes but they normally are not the most dangerous strokes. Strokes are medical emergencies so the patient must receive medical attention as soon as the first signs have appeared.
Aspirin is a medication effective in stroke prevention because it thinners the blood.

The first step when establishing a stroke diagnosis is recognizing the first symptoms. These are sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg on one side of the body, sudden confusion, speech trouble, seeing problems, loss of balance or coordination, dizziness, severe headache with no apparent known cause.

Physical examination is performed in order to conclude if there are signs of a stroke. The doctor will check the airway, breathing, blood circulation and the patient’s vital signs. The examination of the head and extremities is required in order to rule out other conditions that may cause the same symptoms or to determine what is causing the stroke. The physician will also look for other signs of vascular diseases and he or she may use a stethoscope to check if there are any bruits in one of the two main arteries that supply blood to the brain. If the bruit exists, it is a sign of atherosclerosis.

The most effective methods to establish a stroke diagnosis are the imaging tests but additional laboratory tests or blood exams may be ordered to determine if the stroke is present or there are other conditions that should be taken under consideration such as infection or brain tumor.

The CT or the Computed Tomography is normally the first imaging test performed to establish stroke diagnosis and it is recommended to be ordered as soon as possible after the symptoms have appeared. The CT scan is able to provide x-ray images of the brain and it is very useful in locating a hemorrhagic stroke. The disadvantage of this test is that ischemic strokes are not showed until 48 hours after onset. This is basically the reason why doctors usually repeat CT scans even if they show nothing at the beginning. This is required in order to rule out the ischemic stroke.

The MRI or Magnetic Resonance Imaging test uses a magnetic field to obtain detailed and clear images of brain tissue and blood vessels in the neck and brain. They are normally used with a magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). They are useful imaging tests that provide clear images that could show a small-vessel infarct.
In some cases, the abnormalities that appear in the blood vessels may be caused by irregular heart rhythm or reduced blood flow to the heart so specialists may order an electrocardiogram is order to detect these abnormalities related to the heart.

Tests that reveal any abnormalities in what concerns the blood vessels in the brain or neck may be used for stroke diagnosis, such as angiograms, ultrasounds or positron emission tomography (PET).

There is a bigger risk that a clot will form into a smaller blood vessel which was most likely previously narrowed due to various risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and smoking. In other stroke cases, calcium and cholesterol deposits that are formed on the wall of the artery (which is known as atherosclerotic plaque) or blood clots can break loose and gets to the artery of the brain by traveling through the open arteries. Then the stroke causes are represented by the blocked flow of oxygen-rich blood to the brain and what is called embolic stroke occurs. This type of stroke is normally caused by clots that came from the heart chamber due to abnormalities of the heart such as arrhythmia or atrial fibrillation. Primary brain tumors may also cause strokes.

Other stroke causes include cerebral hemorrhage or subarachnoid hemorrhage. The first occurs due to the rupture of one of the blood vessels in the brain that causes bleeds into the surrounding brain tissue; basically it is bleeding into the brain. Some parts of the brain may not receive enough blood and oxygen and this will cause a stroke. Also, bleeding into the brain can lead to cerebral edema, the swelling of brain tissue which will ultimately increase the intracranial pressure, squeezing the brain against the skull. This causes most of the time further damage. The subarachnoid hemorrhage is normally a result of a broken or ruptured blood vessel in the brain. Most of the time it is a form of aneurysm in which blood accumulates in the space beneath the arachnoid membrane. This type of stroke can end up in a coma or brain death if the symptoms are not recognized and treated. Its major symptoms are severe headache and stiff neck.

Other medical conditions such as vasculitis can be in rare cases stroke causes. This is mainly due to the fact that in patients with vasculitis the blood vessels become inflamed and there are more risks of developing blood vessels abnormalities.

It is more likely that persons suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes or persons with high cholesterol as well as older people will suffer from stroke. For those at risk it is very important to avoid the risk factors such as smoking and to try keeping their cholesterol and blood pressure under control because like that they will be able to discard some of the stroke causes.

The brain aneurysm is a sack-like area filled with blood that balloons out from the weak spots of the wall of an artery. Aneurysms are not normally dangerous but if they rupture in the brain they will cause a hemorrhagic stroke. It was used to be thought that the brain aneurysm is a congenital condition but more recently specialists believe that aneurysms are a result of the microscopic damage to the artery walls. Damage to the artery walls is usually produced by abnormal flow at the junction points where the arteries reunite. Any factor that could cause the weakening of the blood vessels in the brain is considered risk factors for aneurysm. Among these is older age, smoking, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, family history of brain aneurysms, drug and alcohol abuse, head injuries or blood infections.
One of the most common causes of a brain aneurysm is the high blood pressure which can either cause this condition or worsen it. More rarely, aneurysms are caused by infections of the artery wall or due to trauma or tumors. Very dangerous is the drug abuse, especially cocaine. It is very likely that an individual who abuses drugs will develop inflammation and weakening of the artery walls which can possibly lead to a brain aneurysm.

Even though brain aneurysms are a common occurrence, most aneurysms remain small and undetected unless they burst and cause a stroke. However, some small aneurysms have the potential to grow gradually and as soon as they are big enough to exert pressure on the surrounding brain tissue, the patient will notice its most common symptoms. These are headaches, change in vision or dilated pupils and numbness or weakness of one side of the face. The symptoms may also suggest other diagnosis such as migraine headache, meningitis, tumor or even stroke but in any case the medical opinion should be sought immediately.

Recognizing the first symptoms of an aneurysm is important because a brain aneurysm should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. Establishing an accurate diagnosis implies taking several imaging tests and a physical examination by a specialist. During the physical examination, the history of headache will be observed as well as if the patient has a stiff neck. The CT is the most commonly imaging test used for diagnosing brain aneurysms. In over 90% of the cases in which the aneurysm ruptured, the CT reveals a subarachnoid hemorrhage. If the CT did not conclude the diagnosis but the doctor suspects an aneurysm, a lumbar puncture may be performed. After the CT or lumbar puncture revealed the existence of a brain aneurysm an angiography is normally ordered to establish the exact location of the aneurysm. A MRI can be also useful in diagnosing aneurysms.

A brain aneurysm can only be treated with surgery, which implies repairing the blood vessels either by clipping or coiling.

The Stroke American Heart Association is an operated affiliated organization to the American Heart Association which is focused on medical care, research and prevention of strokes. The Stroke American Heart Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States, Dallas, Texas. It is a national voluntary agency which has the mission of “Building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke”. The volunteers working for the association are persons related to the medical care domain, mainly doctors who put effort in reducing the disability and deaths caused every year by all types of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Apart from the center in Dallas, the organization has eight affiliate offices in the United States and in Puerto Rico.

Currently, the association is run by the President Dr. Timothy Gardner, M.D. who was under his authority over 3,000 full-time and part-time staff and more than 22 million volunteers. The agency has also a board of directors (also formed by volunteers) with members from science, medicine, business and even industry.

The American Heart Association provides trainings for first aid, as well as standards for proper performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (which is commonly known as CPR) and was certified for basic life support (or BLS).

The American Heart Association or AHA was founded in 1924 by six cardiologists who decided to share their education and research in the heart diseases field in order to fight the first two causes of death in the United States, heart diseases and stroke. The division called the American Stroke Association was created in November 1998 and since then its mission is to support stroke-education programs or stroke related research. The agency is also supporting stroke survivors and their caregivers.

The last campaign launched by the Stroke American Heart Association is the “Take 2 To Save 2″ campaign which provides various life-changing health messages to persons who are considered to be at risk for stroke.” Take 2 To Save 2″ is a part of the “Power to End Stroke” cause campaign intended to reach the African Americans. The campaign involves calling for persons who could save two loved ones, friends or family, by taking two minutes and texting a part of the message of the campaign “Take 2″ to “64244″. Those who receive the text get a personalized message related to their health and it could help in saving their lives. The messages can be also got via phone cell, e-mail or Facebook.

Both Stroke American Heart Association and AHA can be contacted by e-mail, phone or via its national center mailing addresses. Local information may be provided on the Stroke American Heart Association website http://www.strokeassociation.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3006177 by typing in the ZIP code of the area you live in.

E-mail: review.personal.info@heart.org
Phone: 1-888-4-STROKE or 1-888-478-7653
The Stroke American Heart Association can also be contacted at 7272 Greenville Ave. Dallas, TX 75231

A brain stroke occurs when one of the brain parts are deprived from oxygen-rich blood due to various mechanisms. Usually a brain stroke occurs when one of the arteries is blocked either because of the narrowing of the small arteries within the brain or the hardening of the arteries that lead to the brain (what is called atherosclerosis). In some cases, a brain stroke may be a result of an embolism which traveled from the heart to the brain. Strokes can be either ischemic (when it is caused by a blood clot) or hemorrhagic (when ruptured aneurysms bleed into to brain).

The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) established a list of stroke symptoms that patients experience. The symptoms of a brain stroke occur suddenly and in the case of a transient ischemic attack (“mini-stroke”) they disappear within 24 hours but otherwise tend to be permanent. The numbness or weakness of the face, arm and leg on one side of the body, trouble seeing, talking or understanding along with severe headaches are the first stroke signs. Patients are usually confused, may loss balance or coordination and have trouble walking and they feel dizzy. The stroke is a medical emergency so recognizing the signs as soon as they occur is very important for the patient’s life.

Medication is available for treating brain stroke. Heparin or aspirin are recommended for patients who have suffered from a stroke due to their ability of thinning the blood. However, the tissue plasminogen activator (or TPA) is the most common treatment for brain stroke. It actually consists in injecting TPA into a vein of the arm as soon as possible since the earlier it is administrated, the better the results are.

The most important and difficult part of the treatment is the stroke recovery. As soon as the patient is no longer acutely ill he or she must follow rehabilitation therapy in order to regain his or her functional abilities. Therapy can be followed either at a rehabilitation specialized hospital or at a nursing facility. During recovery, the patient will follow speech therapy to regain his or her ability to talk and swallow occupational therapy in order to regain dexterity in the arms and physical therapy to improve his or her strength and walking. Rehabilitation process includes family education intended to orient the family considering the challenges they will face.

Preventing stroke is the best a patient could do. Those who suffer of diabetes, who smoke or have high blood pressure and high levels of cholesterol are predisposed to develop such a condition. Persons at risk should regularly check their blood pressure and cholesterol levels and try keeping them under control. A stroke usually happens with no warning so it is very important that individuals that may suffer for a stroke follow their doctor’s advices.

Some brain strokes may be caused by a brain tumor. Brain cancer and especially primary tumors (those who develop within the brain) may lead to complications such as brain stroke under special circumstances.