What Causes Brain Stroke & How to Prevent It?

Stroke comes next to artery coronary disease in the list of ‘most common reasons for death; it’s the prevalent cause of chronic physical and mental disability. Common risk factors like diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and smoking have widespread influence on this and still, insufficiently controlled. Stroke is one of the foremost public health concerns across the globe and it has been growing at a frightening rate specifically over the last few years. However, as stated by a qualitative study, people often circumvent medical consultations even after noticing serious symptoms. Avoidance of medical help may give rise to reduced survival chance, late detention of disease and potentially preventable suffering.

The epidemic of stroke requires to be addressed with effective public education across all demographic groups. This article is an initiative to throw light on different aspects associated with this disease.

First Aid Treatment for Brain Stroke Victim

• Act immediately to lessen the impact of brain damage instigated by stroke.
• Each minute matters when it comes to stroke, the treatment performs best if you get it within three hours hence, promptly call or make someone call the ambulance equipped with essentials like ventilation & oxygen administration equipment.
• If you are taking care of the patient don’t let him drink water.
• Observe the symptoms of the patents to convey them to the emergency operator; this will enable them to make a quick decision.
• If he is facing difficulty in breathing then untie any constrictive clothing and if he is not breathing start performing CPR without further ado.

Doctors evaluate and determine the appropriate treatment, then administer clot-busting drugs or aspirin depending on the nature of the stroke. If the stroke is begotten by burst blood vessels then doctors try to stop the bleeding. Doctors may perform several tests to determine the possible causes of stroke. Tests include physical examination, blood tests, computerized tomography scan that is better known as CT scan, MRI, Carotid ultrasound and cerebral angiogram.

People often use both the term brain haemorrhage and stroke interchangeably however they both are different. Let’s read the following to get a basic notion about them.

Difference between Brain Haemorrhage and Stroke

Brain Haemorrhage is a sort of stroke that occurs when an artery bursts in brain triggering internal bleeding, thus the brain cells in that particular area stops functioning. In this condition, a sudden gush of blood flows inside the blood tissue resulting in brain damage, such Haemorrhagic stroke that happens inside the brain is also known as intracerebral haemorrhage.

On the other hand, a stroke occurs following some disruption in the blood flow level that runs toward the brain, consequently, starved of nutrient-rich and oxygen-rich blood the brain tissue starts to die.

Haemorrhagic stroke is attributable to two reasons, the common one is aneurysm. When a certain part of blood vessel becomes enlarged due to high blood pressure, aneurysm occurs. The enlargement of the vessel results in thinning of the blood vessel and consequent rupture. In some cases blood vessel walls are congenitally weak thus fails to bear the pressure and bursts sooner or later.

Another and rarer reason behind ICH is brain arteriovenous malformation. This happens when the veins and arteries are not connected normally; a tangle of blood vessels connects arteries and veins inside the brain. This is a congenital defect that implies the person is born with it.

Lifestyle Choices that Lead to Brain Stroke

Addiction to alcohol

• Alcohol like sweet wine and beer contain carbohydrates thus increase the blood sugar level and glucose increases the possibilities of fatty deposits inside blood vessel, which in due course narrows the vessels in the neck or brain stopping the blood and oxygen supply and triggers the chance of brain stroke.
• Alcohol stimulates our appetite and we may end up overeating, this interferes with our blood sugar level and disrupt the positive impacts of insulin or oral diabetes pills
• Excessive consumption of alcohol may increase blood pressure to a dangerous level and surge the level of triglyceride and redundant presence of this body fat makes people vulnerable to brain stroke.

Habit of Smoking

• Smoking builds blood clots and raises the plaque accumulation level in arteries; the combination of these two may increase the probability of having a stroke. The arteries heading towards your brain are particularly susceptible to the harm spawned by smoking.
• Nicotine present in cigarette increases blood pressure, Carbon monoxide, induced by smoking inhibits the amount of oxygen supplied through blood

Incontinent Eating habit

• Diets rich in trans-fat, saturated fat and cholesterol may increase the level of blood cholesterol.
• Consumption of excessive sodium may raise blood pressure.
• Ingestion of high calories leads to obesity.

Aside from that, non-steroidal drug like ibuprofen may increase the risk of brain stroke by 40%, hence, ask the medical practitioners for alternatives.

Now as you know the potential causes of brain stroke, map out the preventative measures to reduce the likelihood of brain stroke. If you have already suffered a brain stroke, the following guide will help you to avert the reoccurrence of stroke and recover from post-stroke pain.

Diet for Stroke Prevention

• Tea contains flavonoid that is beneficial in decreasing the level of cholesterol and higher blood pressure. As per a few studies, 3 cups of green or black tea may reduce the risk of brain stroke. Black tea is specifically good for diabetic patients as the compounds present in it enacts like insulin and restrain starch from transforming into sugar.
• Add nuts and extra-virgin olive oil in your daily diet and stop resorting on processed food and vitamins like Coenzyme Q10, Vitamin B3, B12, C, D and Omega 3’s.
• Unhealthy microbiome is considered as one of the causes of post-stroke depression and anxiety, probiotics supplements can help you to feel better; you can also opt for natural probiotics like tempeh, yogurt and miso. Healthy microbiome also reduces the cortisol level or stress hormone.

Exercise to Alleviate Pain & Better Mobility

• Maintaining a healthy body fat and weight ratio is certainly a good way to manage the risk factors associated with strokes. If you want to cope with spasticity without drugs then resort to exercise. Start investing your time in learning yoga or Tai Chi. Yoga promotes improved breathing and smooth physical movements; Tai Chi helps the healing process, increases functionality, and stability as well as improves overall well-being.
• Alternative medicine and complementary medications often help with stroke recovery as well as prevention, for instance CAM treatments like massage, acupuncture may release the post-stroke pain one of the primary reasons of higher blood pressure and stroke. However, CAM treatment should not be replaced with any doctor prescribed treatments; inclusion of such treatments may help you achieve health goals like controlling the sugar and blood pressure level. Meditation is another excellent practice helpful in assuaging depression, relieving fatigue and improving information processing.

Always keep in check your glucose level and blood pressure level and refrain yourself from drinking, smoking and overeating. This is the high time to bring some positive changes in your lifestyle and daily diet to ensure a healthy, vigorous life ahead and no one else but you can make it happen.