STROKE

DEFINITION

Stroke is a condition that occurs

when blood supply to the brain is
interrupted or reduced due to a
blockage (ischemic stroke) or rupture
of blood vessels (hemorrhagic
stroke). Without blood, the brain will
not get oxygen and nutrients, so cells
in some areas of the brain will die.
 Symptoms or Signs

Symptoms of stroke vary from person to person, but

generally appear suddenly. There are 3 main symptoms
of stroke that are easy to remember, namely:
Face : The face will look down on one side and unable
to smile because the mouth or eyes droop.
Arms : People with stroke symptoms are unable to lift
one of their arms because it feels weak or numb. Not
only the arms, limbs that are one side with the arms
are also experiencing weakness.
Speech (how to speak) : Speech is unclear, chaotic, or
even unable to speak at all even though the patient
looks conscious.
In addition, there are several other
symptoms and signs of stroke that may
appear, including:
Nausea and vomiting.
Severe headaches that come suddenly,
accompanied by stiffness in the neck and
dizziness (vertigo).
Loss of consciousness.
Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), resulting in
choking.
Disturbances in balance and coordination.
Sudden loss of vision or double vision.
 Causes of Stroke

Based on the cause, there are two types

of strokes, namely:
Ischemic stroke : Ischemic stroke occurs
when the arteries that carry blood and oxygen
to the brain are narrowed, causing blood flow
to the brain to be greatly reduced. This
condition is also called ischemia. Ischemic
strokes can be further divided into 2 types,
thrombotic strokes and embolic strokes.
Hemorrhagic stroke : Hemorrhagic stroke
occurs when a blood vessel in the brain
ruptures and causes bleeding. Bleeding in the
brain can be triggered by several conditions
that affect blood vessels. These conditions
include uncontrolled hypertension, weakening
of the walls of blood vessels, and treatment
with blood thinners. Hemorrhagic stroke
consists of two types, namely intra cerebral
and subarachnoid hemorrhage.
 Stroke Risk Factors

There are several factors that increase the risk of

stroke. In addition to stroke, this risk factor can also
increase the risk of heart attack. These factors
include:
Health factors, which include:
Hypertension.
Diabetes.
High cholesterol.
Obesity.
Heart disease, such as heart failure, congenital heart disease,
heart infections, or arrhythmias.
Sleep apnea.
Have had a TIA or heart attack before.
Lifestyle factors, which include:
Smoking.
Lack of exercise or physical activity.
Consumption of illegal drugs.
Alcohol addiction.
Other factors:
Heredity. People who have family members who
have had a stroke are at high risk of experiencing
the same disease.
With increasing age, a person has a higher risk of
stroke than younger people.