Stroke: causes, symptoms, and treatment

Definition of a stroke

Stroke is a health problem that occurs when blood supply to the brain is interrupted or completely stopped, so that the brain tissue is deprived of oxygen and nutrients. As a result, within minutes, brain cells begin to die.

This condition is classified as a serious disease and can be life threatening, therefore it requires immediate medical attention. Prompt and precise help can reduce the risk of brain damage and various other complications.

Stroke symptoms can range from mild to severe, such as paralysis or numbness on one side of the face or body. There are also other symptoms of this disease such as headaches, weakness, problems with vision, difficulty speaking and understanding other people's speech.

How common is this disease?

This disease can be experienced by anyone, from stroke in children to the elderly. To prevent this, you can minimize the risk factors for this condition. Please discuss with your doctor for more information.

Types of stroke

After understanding what a stroke is and its complete definition, now is the time for you to understand some of the types of conditions, including:

1. Ischemic stroke

Ischemic stroke is classified as a type of stroke that occurs most often than other types of stroke. This disease occurs when the blood vessels in the brain become narrowed or blocked, so that blood flow to the brain is blocked.

2. Hemorrhagic stroke

A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain leaks or bursts. This condition starts with weakened blood vessels, which then burst and spill blood around them.

This leak causes a buildup of blood that pushes against the surrounding brain tissue. Death or a long coma will occur if the bleeding continues.

Hemorrhagic strokes fall into two types:

Intracerebral hemorrhage, namely bleeding that occurs when an artery in the head bursts and causes bleeding in the brain. Usually, this condition occurs because of high blood pressure.
Subarachnoid hemorrhage, namely bleeding that occurs on the surface of the brain. There are three layers that line the brain, and this bleeding occurs between the layer closest to the brain and the second layer.

3. Light stroke

Transient ischemic attack (TIA) or often called a mild stroke is a short-term lack of blood in the nervous system, usually less than 24 hours or even just a few minutes.

This condition occurs when there is a blood clot or clot that blocks blood flow in the central nervous system. Blood clots are only temporary so they don't cause tissue damage.

However, you have a higher risk if you have experienced it transient ischemic attack.

Stroke signs & symptoms

Stroke symptoms tend to occur suddenly and always affect only one side of the body. It gets worse over a 24 to 72 hour period. Common symptoms include:

Sudden headache.
Loss of balance, problems with walking.
Fatigue.
Loss of consciousness or coma.
Vertigo and dizziness.
Blurry and blackened vision.
Weakness or numbness on one side of the body on the face, hands, feet.
There are problems with speech and hearing.

There may be signs and symptoms of a stroke not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When to see a doctor?

You should contact your doctor if you experience the following symptoms of stroke:

Numbness, helplessness, or a sudden tingling feeling or loss of ability to move the face, arm, or leg, especially if it occurs on only one side of the body.
Sudden change in vision.
It's hard not even to speak.
Sudden dizziness and difficulty understanding simple sentences.
Problems with walking and balancing.
A severe headache that has never been felt before.
You are taking aspirin or a medicine that blocks blood clotting but you see signs of bleeding.
Choking, due to food falling into the throat.
Has signs of blood clots in deep vessels such as: redness, heat, and pain in certain areas on your arms or legs.
The arms and legs become increasingly stiff and cannot be stretched (spasticity)

Recognizing the symptoms of stroke in other people

If someone has a tendency to develop stroke symptoms, you should pay attention to their activities to keep them and take them to the doctor as soon as possible;

Ask the person to smile. Check if one side of the face is not reacting
Ask the person to raise both hands. Notice if one hand is hanging down.
Ask the person to repeat the simple sentence. Check for unclear words and if the sentence can be repeated correctly.

You also need to provide first aid to stroke patients in case of a sudden attack.

Causes of stroke

The cause of stroke usually depends on the type. The following are causes that you can learn by type.

Cause ischemic stroke

There are three types of conditions that can cause ischemic strokes, such as:

Plaque buildup

The buildup of plaque on the walls of the arteries does not only cause heart attacks, but other conditions such as atherosclerosis. This plaque buildup causes the arteries to narrow, thus blocking blood flow to the tissues or organs in the body.

This plaque buildup can also occur in arteries in the brain and neck. If there is blockage due to plaque accumulating in the arteries both in the brain and in the neck, the patient will experience an ischemic stroke.

There was a blood clot

Apart from clogging, plaque inside the arteries can also burst. The blood cells around the broken plaque stick together and form blood clots. Clotted blood can also clog arteries.

Although blood clots occur in other parts of the body, these blood clots can travel up to the brain. This condition is also known as an embolic stroke.

This condition can be caused by blood disorders such as atrial fibrillation and sickle cell disease that triggers blood clots and causes strokes.

Causes of hemorrhagic stroke

The following are some of the conditions that cause hemorrhagic strokes:

Hypertension

High blood pressure or hypertension is the disease that most often causes hemorrhagic strokes. Hypertension can occur due to abnormalities or problems with the kidneys, an unhealthy lifestyle, or consumption of certain drugs.

Aneurysm

Aneurysms are inflammation or inflammation of the artery walls located inside the brain. This condition is caused by thinning and weakening of the artery walls, resulting in inflammation.

Aneurysms can be present at birth (congenital) or develop over time, especially if you have a history of hypertension.

Arterial malformation (AVM)

Arterial malformation or AVM is a condition in which abnormalities in the blood vessels occur. Actually, this disorder can occur in any part of the body, including the brain.

AVM is usually present from birth. If the AVM is located in the brain, there is a risk of bleeding.

Anticoagulant medications (blood thinners)

Some people who take blood-thinning drugs to reduce the risk of blood clots have the potential to experience bleeding in the brain.

Causes of minor strokes

This condition occurs when plaque or blood clots in arteries located in the central nervous system block the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain.

This condition causes blood flow to the brain to become blocked and causes a stroke that occurs briefly.

Stroke risk factors

There are many risk factors for stroke:

Lifestyle risk factors

Being overweight or obese.
The habit of being lazy.
Too much alcohol consumption.
Using illegal drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine.

Medical risk factors

High blood pressure.
Smoking habits or exposure to secondhand smoke (second-hand smoke).
High cholesterol.
Diabetes.
Sleep disturbance.
Heart disease.
Family medical history related to stroke, heart attack, or minor stroke.
COVID-19 infection.
Excessive use of anticoagulant drugs (blood thinners) or outside the recommended doctor's rules.

Another factor

Are over 55 years of age.
Men have a higher risk than women.
Using birth control pills.

Not having these risk factors doesn't mean you can't have a stroke. These factors are for reference only. You should consult your doctor for a more detailed explanation.

Stroke diagnosis & treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

There are several types of tests that doctors usually do to diagnose this condition, including:

Physical examination.
Blood test.
CT Scan.
Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).
Carotid ultrasound.
Cerebral angiogram.
Echocardiogram.

What are the stroke treatment options?

Just like the symptoms and causes, the options for treating stroke are also distinguished by type.

Treatment of ischemic stroke

Treatment that can be done, among others:

1. Drug use

The main treatment usually given to treat ischemic stroke is administration tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). This stroke medication can break down blood clots that are blocking blood flow to the brain.

Usually, the doctor will give this drug by injecting it in a vein in the patient's arm. This drug can be effective if given within about three hours of symptoms appearing.

However, if you cannot receive treatment using tPA, your doctor may order anticoagulants or blood thinners such as aspirin or clopidrogrel.

The function of this drug is to stop the formation of blood clots or prevent them from becoming bigger. A side effect of using this drug is bleeding.

2. Medical procedures

Apart from drug use, you can also undergo medical procedures to open blocked arteries and restore blood flow to the brain. There are several ways to do this:

Thrombectomy, to remove a blood clot from a blood vessel.
Angioplasty and stenting procedures, to open blocked arteries.

Treatment for hemorrhagic stroke

Treatment that can be done, including:

1. Drug use

Medicines for high blood pressure are usually given by doctors to help lower blood pressure and the strain on blood vessels in the brain.

You will also be advised to stop taking anticoagulant drugs or blood thinners that have the potential to trigger bleeding.

2. Medical procedures

There are also several medical procedures you can do to treat hemorrhagic strokes, such as:

Blood transfusion.
Clipping aneurysm, to prevent aneurysms from blood vessels in the brain.
Embolization coil, to block blood flow or prevent aneurysm.
Drains excess fluid in the brain.
Surgery or radiation to remove or shrink arteriovenous malformations.
Surgery to remove the pooled blood.
Surgery to temporarily remove part of the skull if the patient has swelling.

Meanwhile, treatment for mild stroke is usually almost the same as treatment for ischemic stroke.

Home stroke treatment

What are some lifestyle changes or stroke medications that can be done at home?

Here are the lifestyle and home treatments that can help you deal with this disease:

Quit smoking.
Take medicines given by your doctor.
Exercise according to your doctor's instructions.
Eat foods that contain less fat and drink less alcohol at least once a day.
Take control of your blood pressure, cholesterol level and diabetes.

Stroke complications

If this condition is not treated promptly, a stroke can cause several other health problems. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, here are some of the complications of stroke that may occur:

1. Blood clots

Difficulty being active as usual over a long period of time increases the patient's potential for developing blood clots in the veins in the leg area.

In fact, this blood clot can even move to other organs, such as the lungs. Even so, this condition can be prevented using drugs or medical aids that can put pressure on the calves to help the blood in the area keep flowing.

2. Difficulty speaking

If this condition attacks the muscles used to speak, the patient may experience difficulty speaking or communicating as usual.

3. Loss of control of the bladder or intestines

In certain cases, strokes can affect the muscles used to urinate and regulate bowel movements. The patient may have to use a catheter so that he can pass urine independently as usual.

However, patients are expected to always be vigilant, because the use of catheters can also trigger urinary tract infections.

4. Osteoporosis

This condition can also lead to osteoporosis, even though it only occurs on one side of the body. To prevent bone loss, the doctor will advise the patient to undergo physical activity as part of rehabilitation.

5. Losing the ability to see, hear, or touch

The ability to feel pain or temperature, whether cold or hot, may be affected after a stroke. The patient may also experience vision or hearing problems so that they cannot see and hear as well as usual.

6. Muscle weakness

This disease can cause stiffness or weakness in the muscles. This condition certainly makes it difficult for the patient to stand or walk as usual. In fact, the patient may not be able to maintain balance or control the muscles in the body.

7. Difficulty chewing and pneumonia

This disease may also affect the muscles that are normally used for chewing, so the patient may have difficulty eating or drinking.

In fact, this condition increases the patient's risk of getting food or drink into the respiratory tract. This can lead to pneumonia.

8. Problems communicating and thinking

This condition may interfere with the patient's ability to focus on activities or make decisions. This disease also increases the patient's risk of developing dementia.