🧠 Stroke: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

⚕️ What is a Stroke?

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, preventing brain tissue from getting enough oxygen and nutrients. Within minutes, brain cells begin to die.

Stroke is a medical emergency, and quick treatment can save lives and improve recovery

🔎 Types of Stroke

🩸 Ischemic Stroke – Caused by a blood clot blocking an artery (most common type).
💥 Hemorrhagic Stroke – Caused by a ruptured blood vessel that leads to bleeding in the brain.
⚡ Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) – “Mini-stroke,” a temporary blockage that serves as a warning sign for future strokes.

⚠️ Symptoms of Stroke

Remember the FAST warning signs 🚨:

F – Face drooping: One side of the face droops when smiling
A – Arm weakness: Trouble raising one arm
S – Speech difficulty: Slurred or strange speech
T – Time to call emergency help 🚑

Other symptoms may include:

😵 Sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body)
👀 Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
🌀 Sudden dizziness, loss of balance, or coordination
🤕 Severe headache with no known cause

🩺 Causes & Risk Factors

⚖️ High blood pressure (main cause)
🍔 High cholesterol and unhealthy diet
🚬 Smoking
🍺 Excessive alcohol consumption
🩺 Diabetes
🏃 Lack of physical activity
🧬 Family history of stroke
👵 Older age increases risk

🧪 Diagnosis of Stroke

Doctors may use:

🩻 CT scan or MRI to check for bleeding or clots
🩸 Blood tests to check clotting and sugar levels
🧲 Carotid ultrasound to see artery blockages
💓 Echocardiogram to detect heart-related causes

💊 Treatment of Stroke

Ischemic Stroke 🩸
- Medications to dissolve clots (thrombolytics)
- Mechanical clot removal (thrombectomy)
Hemorrhagic Stroke 💥
- Surgery to repair ruptured blood vessels
- Medications to control bleeding and reduce brain pressure
Rehabilitation 🏃‍♂️
- Physical therapy
- Speech therapy
- Occupational therapy

🛡️ Prevention of Stroke

🩺 Control blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol
🚭 Quit smoking and limit alcohol
🏃 Exercise regularly
🥗 Eat a healthy diet (low salt, sugar, and fat)
⚖️ Maintain healthy weight
💊 Take prescribed medications to reduce clot risk

🌟 Outlook

Stroke recovery depends on how quickly treatment begins and how much brain tissue was affected. Many patients improve with rehabilitation, lifestyle changes, and proper medical care.

🧠 Stroke