Stroke

What is a stroke?

A stroke happens when something stops blood flow to or in your brain. Without enough blood, your brain doesn’t get the oxygen it needs, and the brain cells start dying. There are several kinds of strokes:

Ischemic stroke

A blockage in the carotid arteries can trigger an ischemic stroke. These arteries carry blood from your heart to your brain.

Hemorrhagic stroke

When a blood vessel in your head leaks blood or bursts, the result is a hemorrhagic stroke.

Transient ischemic attack

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) results from a temporary disruption of blood flow to your brain. Sometimes called a mini-stroke, a TIA doesn’t cause lasting brain damage but is a warning sign that your stroke risk is high.

Why would I have a stroke?

The most common stroke (ischemic) is usually caused by carotid artery disease. This condition results from atherosclerosis — a buildup of cholesterol that forms a sticky substance called plaque. Atherosclerosis is the same condition that causes coronary artery disease in your heart and peripheral arterial disease in your legs.

The plaque adheres to the inside of your arteries, and your arteries can become so narrow that blood can’t get through. In other cases, a piece of plaque breaks free from the artery wall, creating the possibility of a blood clot that can block the artery. These problems both cause strokes.

Things that increase your stroke risk include:

• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Lack of exercise
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Substance abuse

You’re also increasingly likely to have a stroke as you get older.

What are the symptoms of a stroke?

Stroke symptoms include:

• Loss of coordination
• Sudden dizziness
• Slurred speech
• Difficulties understanding
• Problems walking
• Paralysis (inability to move)
• Difficulty seeing clearly
• Drooping on one side of the face

A stroke is a medical emergency. If you’re with someone who displays these symptoms, call 911 immediately.

How is a stroke treated?

When treating stroke, the Sunset Neurological & Psychiatry Group team focuses on restoring blood flow to your brain. If you have an ischemic stroke, your doctor might use medications to break up the blood clots. If you’re having a hemorrhagic stroke, your doctor controls the bleeding in your brain to reduce pressure and prevent clots from forming.

In some cases, further treatment will be needed, like peripheral angioplasty to flatten the plaque in your carotid arteries. Surgery might be necessary to repair damaged blood vessels if you have a hemorrhagic stroke.

Stroke recovery can take time and requires extensive therapy to restore lost function.

Call Sunset Neurological & Psychiatry Group today or book an appointment online to learn more about strokes and how to prevent them.