Stroke
On this page:
A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain stops. There are two different
kinds of stroke. The most common is an ischemic stroke, caused by a blood
clot that blocks a blood vessel or artery in the brain. The other, less
common, is a hemorrhagic stroke, caused when a blood vessel in the brain
ruptures and spills blood into the surrounding tissue. Brain cells in
the area begin to die, either because they stop getting the oxygen and
nutrients they need to function, or they are killed by the rupture of
the vessel and sudden spill of blood.
The symptoms of stroke happen immediately:
- Numbness or weakness in the face, arms, or legs (especially on one
side of the body)
- Confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding speech
- Vision disturbances in one or both eyes
- Dizziness, trouble walking, loss of balance or coordination
- Severe headache with no known cause
If you or someone else has these symptoms, seek immediate medical assistance.
The longer blood flow is cut off to the brain, the greater the potential
for permanent damage.
Doctors diagnose stroke by performing a short neurological examination,
as well as blood tests, CT scans, MRI scans, Doppler ultrasound, and
arteriography, if needed.
Return to top 
Ischemic strokes can be treated with a drug called t-PA that dissolves
the clot or clots that are keeping blood from flowing to the brain.
Because damaged brain cells can linger in a compromised but potentially
viable state for several hours, the sooner treatment begins the better
the chances of surviving without disabilities.
Stroke appears to run in some families who may either have a genetic
mutation that predisposes them to stroke, or share a lifestyle that
contributes to stroke risk factors. Other than genetic predisposition,
additional risk factors for stroke are high blood pressure, heart disease,
smoking, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Controlling these risk factors
can decrease the likelihood of stroke.
Return to top
The effects of a stroke range from mild to severe depending on the type
of stroke, area of the brain affected, and the extent of the damage.
Those who have survived a stroke may experience paralysis, pain, or
numbness, as well as problems with thinking and speaking, and emotional
changes. Many individuals will require physical therapy to regain strength
and mobility, and occupational therapy to relearn how to perform everyday
activities, such as eating, dressing, using the bathroom, etc. Speech
therapy is appropriate for those who have trouble reading, understanding
speech, or forming language
Return to top
NINDS-sponsored research investigates the full range of factors involved
in stroke incidence, treatment, diagnosis, and prevention. Current programs
are exploring the genetic origins of stroke predisposition, the prevalence
of stroke among different racial and cultural groups in America, clinical
applications of new therapies, and basic science studies to understand
the biological mechanisms involved in the death or survival of brain
cells during stroke.
For example, a recent clinical trial showed that aspirin is just as
effective as a more expensive medication called warfarin for preventing
additional strokes. Prior to this study, most clinicians believed that
warfarin was a better blood thinner than aspirin, even though it was
more expensive, required monthly blood tests for proper monitoring,
and had a greater risk of side effects. The findings from this trial
demonstrated that aspirin was not only cheaper and safer than warfarin
for preventing stroke, it was just as effective.
Another study used a vaccine that interferes with inflammation inside
blood vessels to reduce the frequency and severity of strokes in animal
subjects that had high blood pressure and a genetic predisposition to
stroke. Researchers are hopeful that the vaccine will work in humans,
and could be used to prevent many of the strokes that occur each year
in individuals with high risk factors.
Researchers are also looking at how chemicals present in the brain
can be used to heal damaged brain cells after a stroke occurs. The findings
from a study that used one of these natural chemicals in animal models
showed that it could improve motor skills after a stroke by stimulating
undamaged nerve fibers to grow new connections in the brain and spinal
cord.
Return to top
American
Stroke Association: A Division of American Heart Association
Brain Aneurysm Foundation
National Stroke Association
National Aphasia
Association
Children's Hemiplegia
and Stroke Assocn. (CHASA)
Hazel K. Goddess
Fund for Stroke Research in Women
American Health Assistance
Foundation
Return to top
Acromegaly
