Anyone can have a stroke

Anyone can have a stroke.

What is a stroke?

A stroke happens when the blood flow to the brain is interrupted.

This can be due to a bleed or a blockage causing the brain cells to die.

Blockages are more common than bleeds to the brain and account for 85% of most strokes.

Although anyone can have a stroke it is more common in the over-55 population although children and babies can have strokes.

People who have had a stroke can experience life-changing damage to the brain. Some people make a full recovery and go on to lead normal lives again, while some have to live with disabilities.

There are 2 main types

Ischaemic – This is the most common type of stroke where there is a blood clot blocking the flow of blood to the brain. This accounts for 85% of cases.

(Transient-Ischaemic Attacks (mini-strokes) – are the same as a stroke but the symptoms last for a shorter period of time).

Haemorrhagic – This happens when a weak blood vessel supplying blood to the brain bursts.

Any stroke-like symptoms should be treated as a medical emergency and specialist medical intervention is needed ASAP.

How do they treat treat it?

Treatment is determined by what caused the stroke.

Blocked artery

Was it a blockage or a bleed?

If it is a blockage then the hospital will use a clot-busting drug (Alteplase) within 4.5 hours and the symptoms can dramatically be reduced.

Surgery may be an option and they use a procedure similar to angioplasty (treatment for heart attacks) to remove the blockage and to open up the blood flow to the brain.

Road to recovery

People who have survived a stroke can be left with life-changing conditions and they may need care for the rest of their lives.

Some make a great recovery and go about their normal lives albeit with a few changes to lifestyle and diet.

In most cases, some rehabilitation is required and this starts very early on in their treatment plan with physiotherapy and speech therapy just to name a couple. This may be short-term or long-term of course.

What are the main risk factors for a stroke?

Lifestyle is a major one with obesity, unhealthy diet, excess alcohol consumption over a period of time, and smoking, just to name the obvious ones.

But lifestyle changes and dietary changes can lower the likelihood of having a stroke,

Certain medical conditions can increase the risk such as;

Conclusion

I was quite surprised by how many strokes occur in the UK each year and they are more than likely to rise sharply over the next 20 years or so. We all have unhealthy food choices once in a while, but those who eat unhealthy foods on a regular basis are at a huge risk over time of having a stroke. The Stroke Association statistics are alarming and I had a scare a few years ago luckily it was a TIA and with dietary changes and exercise, I am healthier today than 10 years ago.