Types And Risk Factors Of Stroke

Strokes are caused by a block in the blood supply to the brain which causes a decrease in oxygen and delivery of other important supplies which facilitate proper functioning. Fifteen million cases are reported worldwide annually, although not all of these cases are mortalities, the large prevalence of strokes ranks it as the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. (Figueroa) Because of the time sensitivity associated with the lack of resources to the brain, strokes are considered a medical emergency and early recognition of symptoms can help decrease the amount of damage caused . Although strokes do not always cause death, strokes most often leave the individual with some physical and cognitive impairment.

The health issue that this artifact discusses is the significance of knowing and recognizing the warning signs of a stroke. The American Heart Association has made it their mission to provide unlimited health information and research in the hopes of eliminating cardiovascular diseases as well as helping society in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. “Stroke is the number 5 cause of death and a leading cause of

Strokes are caused by pathophysiological changes. The two major mechanisms of stroke consist of ischemia and haemorrhage. Ischemia is when there is no oxygen or not, merely enough oxygen to fuel the tissue level in the body. Haemorrhage in the brain, causing strokes can be due to non-traumatic intracerebral haemorrhage (Shah, MD, n.d.) (see appendix 1). This essay will further discuss the implications of strokes on a cellular, organ and system level. Explain the clinical presentation of the signs and symptoms of strokes and how the condition will be managed by a paramedic.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2015) every year there are 800,000 individuals who have strokes. There are 610,000 first time cases and 185,000 recurring stroke individuals. It is important for caregivers to note that the increased risk of another stroke is higher after the first (CDC, 2015). It is also critical for the caregiver to ask questions of the physician, such as what aspects physiologically and emotionally have been affected and treatments

Each year according to National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke more than 700,000 Americans suffer a stroke and about 160,000 die from stroke-related causes. In early 2011 at the American Stroke Association it was reported that the incidence of stroke has rose 51% among men and 17% among women aged fifteen though thirty-four years between 1994-1995 and 2006-2007.

The history of stroke began with Hippocrates, the father of medicine, who was the first one to recognized stroke more than 2,400 years ago. Back then they used to refer as apoplexy a Greek terms, which means “struck down by violent” because at that time they did not have an explanation for it .Century later, in mid-1600’s Jacob Wepfer discovered that something disrupted the blood supply in the brain of people who died from apoplexy. In some cases, the vvartery were blocked. In others, there had been massive bleeding into the brain tissue. After that there was no more progression in the history until 1928. Medical science continues to make advances concerning the causes, symptoms. There is a large amount of information available jon causes, prevention methods, risks and treatment of stroke.

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability in the world. Every year, more than 795,000 people in the United States suffer a stroke. About 87% of all strokes are ischemic strokes, where blood flow to the brain is blocked and 13% are hemorrhagic strokes, where a weakened blood vessel in the brain ruptures. Stroke costs the United States an estimated $34 billion each year. Strokes are diagnosed and confirmed using physical examination, blood tests and brain imaging techniques. Clinical treatments and preventative measures for stroke have improved in the acute setting, but long-term rehabilitation techniques remain limited. Stroke is a major health problem that greatly affects people of all ages and causes long-term disability

A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is either interrupted, blocked or a blood vessel in the brain ruptures. These blockages are often caused by blood clots, which can form in the arteries connecting to the brain. When this happens, there is an insufficient amount of oxygen and nutrients going to the brain, and this causes the brain cells to die. It also is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States (U.S) today. There are three forms of stroke: ischemic strokes, hemorrhagic strokes, and transient ischemic attacks. These are also called mini-strokes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC (2014), stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States as well as the leading cause of devastating long-term disability in more than half of stroke survivors age 65 and over. When mild, stroke symptoms may be unnoticeable. However, severe stroke can result to hemiplegia, coma, and death. In addition, stroke cost the nation approximately 34 billion dollars annually including the cost of health care services, and lost productivity. Some of the stroke risk factors like age, heredity, gender and ethnicity are non-modifiable. Health conditions that are risk factors for stroke include hypertension, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, high cholesterol,

A stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading into as well as within the brain. “Strokes are the 4th leading cause of death in the United States. Approximately 800,000 people have strokes every year about one every 4 seconds.”1 A stroke may cause lasting brain damage, long term disability, or possibly even death. There are three main types of strokes, ischemic, hemorrhagic and transient ischemic attacks and each come with many warning signs. A person may have an increased chance of having a stroke depending on their lifestyle and risky behaviors, and treatment is determined on what type of stroke a person has.

A stroke is considered a medical emergency in which prompt treatment is crucial to minimize damage to the brain and reduce the complications. There are preventative measures for strokes, which is why there are fewer deaths presently compared to years ago. Reducing the risk factors is ideal in reducing the chances of stroke occurrence. Ensuring proper weight management, exercising/ physical activity, reducing or stopping alcohol consumption, stopping smoking and stopping use of illegal drugs can help prevent the risk of a stroke. Other risk factors include family background, being older, race, and gender.

The incidence rate of stroke in the United States accounts for 75% due to major pathological changes in the brain (Goodman, & Fuller, 2015). The epidemiology of stroke in United Stated accounts approximately 700.000 cases diagnosed each year with an incidence rate of men is higher than women (Frizzell, Arbour, & March, 2005). The risk factors for stroke are higher in the age group 80-84 years are at higher risk for developing stroke, the risk factor for stroke is also depended on age, race, and sex (Goodman, & Fuller, 2015). The etiology of stroke is depended on the site and type of damage in the brain, 85% of strokes are due to ischemic changes in the brain and 15% are due to hemorrhage in intraparenchymal subarachnoid space (Goodman, & Fuller,

inactivity, obesity, excessive alcohol use, drug use and poor diet are also considered as the

Stroke accounts for 11.13% of total worldwide mortality which was the second leading global causes of death after heart disease (Mozaffarian et al., 2015).In the context of stroke, The World Health Organization(WHO) defined it as “ rapidly developing clinical signs of focal disturbance of cerebral function, with symptoms lasting 24 hours or longer or leading to death, with no apparent causes other than of vascular origin” (Aho et al., 1980).However, symptoms lasting less than 24 hours can indicate transient ischemic attack; a temporary episode of neurological dysfunction caused by brain ischemia without acute infarction, usually last from 2 to 15 minutes but can last up to a day (“A classification and outline of cerebrovascular diseases.

When assessing the relative literature as well as the plight of stroke patients, one finds that there are many causes or reasons why people fall victim to strokes. Accidents, diet, and old age-related factors are most often identified. Similarly, there exists some consensus as to appropriate treatment or therapy, which of course is dependent upon the individual and actual condition. The risk of stroke in all Americans increases after the age of 45. More often that not, clinicians are predisposed to prevention over treatment. Arteriosclerosis has been identified as a frequent cause of strokes, and certain factors have similarly been identified as exacerbating individual's medication conditions. Diet as well a related factors including