| A stroke is also known as a cerebral vascular | | | | Haemorrhagic Strokes |
| accident (CVA), brain attack or transient | | | | Haemorrhagic (hem-or-agic) strokes happen when |
| ischaemic attack (TIA). When you have a stroke | | | | the blood vessel bursts and blood leaks into the |
| the blood supply to a part of your brain is blocked | | | | brain causing damage. The main risk factors are |
| or compromised. Within 3 minutes brain cells in | | | | aneurysms (weak blood vessel walls which stretch |
| that part of the brain start to die. Unless rapid | | | | like a balloon before 'popping'), high blood pressure |
| action is taken a large number of cells die which | | | | (especially if untreated or unknown) and blood |
| causes brain injury and potentially severe and long | | | | clotting disorders. |
| lasting damage. | | | | How is the brain damaged? |
| Transient ischaemic attack (TIA) | | | | Your brain is made up of hundreds of millions of |
| TIA's are also known as 'mini strokes'. They | | | | cells and they all need a constant blood supply to |
| usually get better within 24 hours. They are | | | | give them oxygen and glucose and take away |
| usually caused by a temporary block to the blood | | | | the acidic 'waste products'. The blood supply of |
| supply, which lasts for only 1-2 minutes before | | | | the brain is just enough but doesn't have much |
| returning to normal. The short lived loss of blood | | | | spare capacity to compensate for the sudden |
| supply 'shocks' the brain cells which need 24 hours | | | | loss of supply that occurs during a stroke. So |
| to get back to normal. Mini strokes can be seen | | | | during a stroke damage happens to your brain |
| as a warning that a major stroke is possible. You | | | | cells after 3-4 minutes and is rapidly permanent. |
| should have a full range of medical tests done and | | | | Unfortunately the dead brain cells swell up quite a |
| any problems treated. A change of lifestyle may | | | | lot. As the skull surrounds the brain the healthy |
| also be needed. | | | | brain cells near them are squashed which if left |
| Types of strokes | | | | untreated can kill them and cause more damage! |
| There are 2 types of strokes (i) ischaemic and (ii) | | | | The end result is an area of dead brain cells and |
| haemorrhagic. It's important for the hospital | | | | permanent brain damage. This disrupts the normal |
| emergency department to know which you have | | | | working of the brain. The part of the brain |
| as it's essential for the correct emergency | | | | damaged dictates which of the different problems |
| treatment | | | | seen after a stroke such as poor speech, |
| Ischaemic Strokes | | | | difficulty swallowing, and loss of arm or leg |
| Ischaemic (Is-ski-mic) strokes happen when the | | | | movement affect you. |
| brain blood vessel is blocked by a blood clot or | | | | Brain cells can't recover but the brain can make |
| the blood vessel is too narrow due to vascular | | | | new pathways round the damaged areas and |
| disease for blood to flow. The cells rapidly die due | | | | other areas of the brain can take over some |
| to lack of oxygen and also lack of glucose (sugar). | | | | functions. This is why a long and intense period of |
| It is the same as happens in angina or a heart | | | | active rehabilitation is essential after a stroke. |
| attack. The main risk factors are high blood | | | | The best thing to do is reduce your risk factors |
| pressure, atherosclerosis (thickening and narrowing | | | | by stopping smoking, treating high blood pressure, |
| of the blood vessels), smoking and irregular | | | | lose weight, get more active and take blood |
| heartbeat. | | | | thinners such as aspirin if medically advised. |