Summary
- Brain Stroke is a condition where a part of brain is damaged due to low supply of blood.
- The reduction of supply in blood can happen due to clogging of blood vessels or due to rupturing and swelling of brain tissues.
- Common symptoms include – speech problems, nausea, confusion, numbing or weakness on one side of the body, problems with vision and problem walking properly.
- Women are at higher risk of having a brain stroke than men.
- Risk factors include high salts, cholesterol, saturated fats, alcohol, tobacco consumption etc.
Brain Stroke is a condition when a part of your brain dies off and the body parts controlled by that part don’t respond anymore.
There are many things that even modern science is failing to understand and human brain is on top of the list. Not many things are known about a human brain and it’s exact functionality. Just like any other tissue or muscle in the body, brain tissues also need continuous supply of blood and oxygen for survival and functioning. Cut off the blood supply to any part of the brain and that part dies off in a matter of minutes. As a result, all the body parts and activities controlled by that area of the brain are deactivated. Such a condition is called ‘Brain Stroke’.
How does brain stroke occur?
Brain stroke happens in 2 different ways:
- When the blood vessels (arteries) break / rupture, the blood leaks into the brain tissues that affect the survival and functionality of that part. (Hemorrhagic Stroke).
- When something (fat deposit or plaque) blocks the arteries in the brain and cuts off the blood supply to a particular region of the brain, stroke can occur. (Ischemic Stroke). Out of 100 people who suffer brain stroke, Ischemic attack is seen in 87% of them.
Symptoms of Brain Stroke
- Numbness or loss of sensation and/or movement in face, arm and leg on one side of the body
- Paralysis
- Confusion, problem in making up works and sentences
- Nausea
- Vision problems
- Problem with walking, you can’t put your next step correctly
- Dizziness
- Sudden onset of headaches
Symptoms of Brain Stroke in women
Statistically, men are at higher risk of stroke than men. Symptoms of stroke seen mostly in women include:
- Hallucination
- Nausea or Vomiting
- Trouble breathing
- Losing consciousness
- Sudden behavioural changes
- Pain and Weakness
Symptoms of Brain Stroke in men
Above listed are the common symptoms that people of any gender may experience. There are some symptoms that are more often seen in men than women. They include:
- Uneven smile
- Face droops to one side
- Problem with speech
- Weakness in arm and/or leg on one side of the body.
What are the different types of brain stroke?
Brain strokes are mainly classified into two types:
- Ischemic Stroke.
- Hemorrhagic Stroke.
Ischemic Stroke
Let’s put this in simple layman terms. Ischemic Stroke happens when the blood vessels supplying blood (and oxygen) get clotted. This clot can develop either inside the blood vessels of the brain or the clot can form elsewhere in the body and reach the brain blood vessels. In either case, the supply of blood to the designated areas of the brain reduces and the cells don’t get enough oxygen for survival and functioning. 87% of brain stroke patients are Ischemic.
Hemorrhagic Stroke
This is a more deadly stroke than Ischemic Stroke. In this case, the blood vessel ruptures and the blood leaks into the brain. This causes swelling in the brain causing damage to brain cells and tissues. Consequently, the areas of the body controlled by that part of the brain get inactivated.
Who are at risk of developing a brain stroke?
- Diet – If you are a consumer of more salt, saturated fats / bad fats, cholesterol, you are at risk of developing a brain stroke. Most of the refined cooking oils turn into saturated fats upon heating. Always prefer to use non refined oils the old Indian way for better health.
- Laziness or being inactive – If you are couch potato or someone who procrastinate your workout activities, you are putting you at risk of not just brain stroke but 100 other health problems. Workout at least 3 hours a week for good health.
- Consumption of alcohol and tobacco products
- Family history, age, gender and ethnicity also puts a person at higher / lower risk of brain stroke. Brain common is more seen in women than men. Some races like African Americans are at higher risk of brain stroke, this can be due to the genetics or may be attributed to their lifestyle including eating habits.
- Medical history – If you are suffering from higher blood pressure, diabetes, heart valve problems, sickle cell problems (round blood cells turn into sickle shape and don’t flow well inside the blood), high cholesterol can put you higher risk of developing a brain stroke.
