A brain stroke, also known by the term 'brain attack', strikes when there is a hindrance in the circulation of the blood to the brain. When the brain cells do not receive the required amount of oxygen because of decrease in the blood flow, they get damaged and eventually die. This leads to a brain stroke.

A stroke may occur due to a blockage in the blood flow or because of bleeding in the brain. According to trusted neurologists in gurgaon,

80% of the strokes that people suffer from are due to the blockage of a blood vessel in the brain or neck. This is called an Ischemic stroke. This type of ischemic stroke may result because of three conditions- thrombosis, embolism and stenosis. Bleeding in the brain may result in a stroke which is called the Hemorrhagic stroke.

Symptoms of Brain Stroke

A stroke has very sudden symptoms. Thus one has to be really careful. Typical symptoms of a stroke are

feeling suddenly confused with trouble conversing and comprehending,
severe headache with vomiting,
numbness of body parts or one whole side of the body and trouble with eyesight and movement.

If you happen to suffer from these symptoms then an immediate consultation with an experienced neurologist is recommended.

Diagnosis

It is essential that a patient who has suffered a stroke receives treatment within 3 hours of the initial symptoms. For diagnosis of the stroke several tests can be performed. A couple of tests among these are done to diagnose - physical examination, blood tests, CT scan, MRI scan, carotid ultrasound, cerebral angiogram and echocardiogram.

Effects & Prevention

A stroke can have a drastic effect on a person's physical and mental health. It may lead to mental depression which may affect a person's overall lifestyle. Physically a stroke can result in paralysis, severe pain in body parts, trouble while controlling emotions and irregular bladder and bowel movements.

To avoid a brain stroke it is essential that you control your lifestyle to a certain extent. The best way to prevent is to lead an active and healthy life. Make sure that you do not indulge in illicit drugs or develop a habit of smoking. This can have a severe effect on your arteries and blood vessels. Have a balanced diet and exercise regularly. Sleep healthy and keep you weight in check. These simple tips will definitely help you to avoid a stroke.

Treatment As the two kinds of strokes are caused because of different reasons, their treatment too is different.

To treat an ischemic stroke an aspirin can be given and if it is an emergency then a Tissue Plasminogen Activator (TPA) injection can be given to the patient. A catheter can also be used to remove the clot, blocking the blood flow to the brain.
For hemorrhagic strokes, blood flow into the brain can be controlled with the help of medications. Surgery can be performed to solve any problems with the blood vessels.

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