About Strokes

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability

Stroke is the 3rd leading cause of death, and the leading cause of serious long-term disability in the U.S. Over 6 million people are living with the effects of stroke. It has been estimated that more than half of strokes can be prevented.

What is a stroke?

A stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is cut off. This can happen when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in or leading to the brain, or when a blood vessel in the brain breaks. In either case, brain cells are starved of the oxygen they need.

Within minutes, these brain cells begin to die, and the functions they control are lost. This is why it is important to seek immediate medical attention. With prompt diagnosis and treatment some of the damage (and disability) of a stroke can be prevented.

A stroke can happen anywhere in the brain. It can be large or small, and it can affect a person's senses, coordination, speech, and ability to understand speech. There are two major types of stroke:

  • Ischemic stroke is the most common, accounting for about 88% of strokes. It is caused by a blocked blood vessel in the brain. Ischemic strokes are often preceded by a transient ischemic attack (TIA).
  • Hemorrhagic stroke is caused by a rupture or breakage of a blood vessel, which leads to bleeding into and around the brain.

Diagnosis and treatment

Time is critical with stroke because brain cells are dying. It is important to get to a hospital quickly. When a patient arrives at a hospital with stroke-like symptoms, the doctor performs a neurological examination. Then special imaging devices are used to determine if a stroke has occurred, what type of stroke, and its severity.

There are two types of imaging devices that are generally used. Both are non-invasive and produce detailed cross-sectional images of the head and brain:

  • CT Scan (Computed Tomography) uses low-dose x-rays to produce images fast. CT scans can quickly rule out a hemorrhagic stroke, show a tumor that may mimic stroke symptoms, and show early evidence of the death of brain cells.

  • MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) uses magnetic fields to detect subtle changes in brain tissue. An advantage of MRI is its ability to detect small areas of dead brain cells soon after a stroke. But the procedure is time-consuming, less accurate at determining if a hemorrhage is present, and not available in all hospitals.

Once doctors make a diagnosis of stroke and rule out hemorrhage as the cause, emergency treatment is begun. "Clot-busting" drugs are given to quickly break up the blockage that caused the stroke. If treatment is given in time, some of the damage can be prevented.

If you have had a TIA or stroke in the past, ask your doctor about AGGRENOX. AGGRENOX is the only combination treatment for helping to prevent recurrent TIA/stroke that was proven twice as effective as aspirin — the most widely used antiplatelet therapy.

TIA AND STROKE SYMPTOMS OCCUR SUDDENLY:

  • Brief period of weakness or numbness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
  • Brief period of confusion or trouble speaking or understanding
  • Trouble seeing in one or both eyes for a brief period of time
  • Trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination for a brief period of time
  • Brief period of severe headache with no known cause

NEVER IGNORE THESE SIGNS — EVEN IF THEY GO AWAY.

If you think you are having a TIA or stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately or go to the nearest emergency room.

If you have had these symptoms recently, don’t ignore them. Make an appointment with your doctor today.

WHAT’S RELATED?

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