Overview Of A Stroke

Risk Factors

Health factors associated with strokes include obesity, being physically inactive, heavy drinking or binge drinking, illicit drug use, high blood pressure, and smoking cigarettes or being exposed to secondhand smoke. Some significant medical risk factors include chronic high blood pressure (over 120/80), high cholesterol, sleep apnea, diabetes, as well as heart conditions such as cardiovascular disease, heart failure, heart defects, and arrhythmias. Other factors that may influence the likelihood of a stroke include age (over fifty-five), race, gender (men are more at risk for strokes than women), and the use of hormones. With hormones, it specifically appears to be the use of birth control pills or other therapies including estrogen.

It is also crucial to note a family medical history of stroke, heart attack, or transient ischemic attack, all increase an individual’s risk of suffering a stroke. Finally, those who have experienced one stroke are at a much higher risk of experiencing another stroke.

Treatment

Treatment for a stroke depends on the type of stroke a person has suffered. Patients who suffered from an ischemic stroke will go through a treatment focused on restoring blood flow to the brain. Medications are available to dissolve blood clots that may occur as a result of an ischemic stroke. The medications work best if administered within ninety minutes of the first symptoms.

Treating a hemorrhagic stroke can include surgery or other methods to stop the bleeding in the brain, and medications that control blood pressure and brain swelling may also be administered. Stroke rehabilitation is available to help patients regain skills they may have lost during the stroke, such as getting dressed or bathing. Treatment options after a stroke typically shift towards preventing further strokes from occurring.