STROKES

A stroke, or brain attack, is caused by the sudden loss of blood flow to the brain or bleeding inside the head. Each can cause brain cells to stop functioning or die. Stroke risk increases sharply with age, doubling every decade after the age of 55.Stroke is an emergency. Ischemic stroke is caused by an interruption of blood flow to the brain, while hemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding inside the head.
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Common symptoms include: Sudden weakness, numbness, or paralysis of the face, arm, or leg(especially on one side of the body) Sudden loss of speech or difficulty talking Sudden difficulty understanding language or confusion Sudden loss of vision (in one eye or loss of vision to one side) or blurred vision Sudden, severe headache with no apparent cause Sudden loss of balance or coordination, often associated with dizziness Immediate medical care is critical. Outcome from a stroke depends on the promptness of the period the treatment is sought. Before treatment, the neurologist or emergency physician must carefully examine the patient to determine the patients condition and what caused the stroke. After having a stroke, many people will be left with some disability. The disability depends on the size and location of the stroke. Rehabilitation helps restore functions lost from damage due to stroke. During rehabilitation, most patients will improve to some degree, but many do not recover completely. Most of the improvement will take place in the first three to six months of the rehabilitation process, but some patients can make excellent progress over longer periods of time. How is stroke prevented? Some risk factors-age, sex, race, and a history of stroke in the family-cannot be changed, but others can be controlled. Most controllable risk factors relate to the health of the heart and the blood vessels. The following can help prevent stroke: Regular medical check-ups Controlling high blood pressure Dont smoke-if you do smoke, stop Treating heart disease, especially an irregular heart beat called atrial fibrillation (AF) Improving diet: Avoid excess fat, salt, and alcohol Exercising Controlling diabetes Seeking immediate medical attention for warning signs of stroke

DR. ALIM AKHTAR BHUIYAN

MBBS (BD), DTM & H (U.K.), M.D. (NEWYORK, U.S.A), POST- DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP IN EPILEPSY (NEW YORK, U.S.A) US BOARD CERTIFIED IN NEUROLOGY CONSULTANT NEUROGOLIST, APOLLO HOSPITALS, DHAKA
(EX- ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF NEUROLOGY, BANGLADESH MEDICAL COLLEGE, DHAKA, EX. - CONSULTANT NEUROLOGIST, VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL SYRACUSE, NEWORK, U.S.A)