CEREBROVASCULAR DISORDERS STROKES Stroke is an interruption of
CEREBROVASCULAR DISORDERS: STROKES
Stroke is an interruption of the blood supply to any part of the brain. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack. “ There are two major type of strokes: Those resulting from cerebral hemorrhage and those resulting from cerebral ischemia
Cerebral Hemorrhage (bleeding in the brain) – it occurs when a cerebral blood vessel ruptures and blood seeps into the surrounding neural tissue and damages it. Bursting aneurysms are a common cause of intracerebral hemorrhage.
Aneurysm is a pathological balloon like dilation that forms in the wall of an artery at a point where the elasticity of the artery wall is defective. – • It can be congenital (present at birth) or can result from exposure to vascular poisons or infection. • Individuals who have aneurysms should make every effort to avoid high blood pressure or any strenuous activity, such as weight lifting.
Cerebral Ischemia – a disruption of the blood supply to an area of the brain. There are three main causes of cerebral ischemia. • Thrombosis – a plug called thrombus is formed and blocks blood flow at the site of its formation. A thrombus may be composed of a blood clot, fat, oil, an air bubble, tumor cells, or any combination thereof. • Embolism - is similar to thrombosis, except that the plug, called an embolus in this case, is carried by the blood from a larger vessel, where it was formed, to a smaller one, where it becomes lodged; in essence, an embolus is just a thrombus that has taken a trip. • Arteriosclerosis – the walls of the blood vessels thicken and the channels narrow, usually as the result of fat deposits; this narrowing can eventually lead to complete blockage of the blood vessels. *Some Ischemic Strokes start out without any bleeding, and then bleeding into the damaged area occurs.
http: //www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pubmedhealth/PMH 0001740/
STROKE RISKS High blood pressure is the number one risk factor for strokes. The following also increase your risk for stroke: • Atrial Fibrillation • Diabetes • Family history of stroke • Heart Disease • High Cholesterol • Increasing age
*Certain medications make blood clots more likely, and therefore increase your chances for a stroke. Birth control pills can increase the chances of having blood clots, especially in woman who smoke and who are older than 35. *Men have more strokes than women. However, women have a higher risk of stroke during pregnancy and in the weeks immediately after pregnancy. The following can increase the risk of bleeding into the brain, which makes you more likely to have a stroke: • Alcohol use • Bleeding disorders • Cocaine use • Head injury
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