Strokes

Conditions we treat

Strokes

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Strokes

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and bleeds, or when there is a blockage in the blood supply to the brain. The rupture or blockage prevents blood and oxygen from reaching the brain’s tissue. Without oxygen, brain cells and tissue can become damaged or even begin to die within minutes.

There are three primary types of strokes:

Transient ischemic attack (TIA): involves a blood clot that typically reverses on its own.
Ischemic stroke: involves a blockage caused by either a clot or plaque in the artery.
Hemorrhagic stroke: caused by either a burst or leaking blood vessel that seeps into the brain.

When someone is having a stroke, the sooner they get care, the better the outcome is likely to be. This is why it is so vital to know the signs of a stroke so you can act quickly.

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The symptoms of a stroke include:

Paralysis
Numbness or weakness in the arm, face, and leg, especially on one side of the body
Trouble speaking or understanding others
Slurred speech
Confusion, disorientation, or lack of responsiveness
Sudden behavioural changes
Vision problems
Trouble walking
Loss of balance or coordination
Dizziness
Severe, sudden headache
Seizures

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There are certain risk factors that increase your chances of having a stroke. They include:

Diet: an unbalanced diet that is high in salt, saturated fats, trans fat and cholesterol increase the risk of a stroke.
Inactivity: lack of exercise can impact the likeliness of you having a stroke.
Heavy alcohol use: the risk of stroke increases with heavy alcohol consumption.
Tobacco use: using tobacco in any form damages your blood vessels and heart, making you more susceptible to having a stroke.

However, there are some risk factors that are out of your control, such as:

Family history: genetic health factors such as high blood pressure increase the risk of stroke in some families
Gender
Age

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The effects of a stroke depend on the location of the obstruction and how much brain tissue was damaged. One side of the brain controls the opposite side so if a stroke occurs on the right side, it will result in neurological complications on the left side of the body.

A stroke on the right side of the body will result in:

Paralysis on the left side of the body
Vision problems
Quick, inquisitive or purposeless behaviour
Memory loss

A stroke on the left side may result in:

Paralysis on the right side of the body
Speech or language problems
Slow, cautious behaviour
Memory loss

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Neurologists specialise in diagnosing, treating and managing conditions of the brain and central nervous system, and stroke treatment and care form part of that. Neurologists, specifically vascular neurologists, can provide both emergency and ongoing care for stroke patients.