Strokes
Strokes
Jake Ames, MD, HMD
It is a
lot easier to prevent a stroke than to be treating a stroke. A stroke is where the brain does not get
enough oxygen, and brain cells start to die.
Every year, approximately 795,000 people suffer a stroke. About 600,000
of these are first strokes, and 185,000 are recurrent attacks. There are different degrees of severity with
strokes. Some people have what is called
a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which results in a temporary loss of oxygen,
and minimal nerve cell death. Their
brain dissolves the blood clot very quickly.
These strokes usually cannot be seen on an MRI or CT scan. TIA’s are a risk for a major stroke in the
future.
There
are two main classifications of strokes, ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. An ischemic stroke is where a blood vessel in
the brain gets blocked by either plaque or a blood clot (thrombus). There are two main subtypes of ischemic
stroke, thrombotic and embolic. A
thrombotic stroke is localized damage to a blood vessel by atherosclerotic
plaque that can rupture and form a localized blood clot. The second subtype is the embolic stroke
where a blood clot from a different location (carotid artery, vertebral artery,
heart) finds its way to the brain.
This can
be caused by heart arrhythmia (e.g. atrial fibrillation),
atherosclerosis
in a neck artery, or a piece of plaque being broken off from another location.
There
are two main subtypes of hemorrhagic stroke, intracerebral and subarachnoid.
An
intracerebral stroke or hemorrhage (ICH) is bleeding inside the brain from a
ruptured blood vessel. The excess blood
damages the brain, and it can lead to brain herniation through the foramen
magnum causing rapid death.
A subarachnoid
hemorrhage occurs when a blood vessel on the surface of the brain ruptures. This usually occurs in the elderly, because
their veins and arteries have stretched due to a shrunken brain. This may present as a severe headache.
High
blood pressure, severe brain atherosclerosis, bleeding disorders, extremely low
platelet counts, some autoimmune diseases, aneurysms, diabetes, illegal street
drugs, brain injuries (boxing), use of Warfarin or blood thinning agents, birth
control pills and smoking can cause strokes.
Symptoms
of a stroke usually develop rapidly, but sometimes develop over days. A person may lose function in a limb and have
difficulty or inability in speaking.
There may be facial drooping, non-symmetrical smile or tongue when the
person extends his tongue. There is
usually a severe headache. There may be
blindness in one eye.
The
sequela of a stroke may be temporary or permanent. A person's long term
recovery depends upon how much of the brain has been damaged, and how quickly
treatment begins.
If you
notice any of these symptoms in you or someone else, call 9-1-1
immediately. Since most strokes are not
hemorrhagic, some physicians advise the potential stroke patient to take 3
aspirins (crush and swallow it), two teaspoons of cayenne pepper in a small
amount of water, and a glass of wine. Doctors may give DMSO (not likely in
almost all hospitals), blood thinning agents, blood pressure medication, or
brain surgery may be needed in a hemorrhagic stroke.
Later if
the patient survives, he needs to work on the causes of his stroke and start
physical and occupational therapies.
This is discussed in other lectures and blogs. I talk about how to reduce your weight and
blood pressure, how to cure type 2 diabetes in three months, and natural ways
to thin your blood. I have a few
successful protocols to help people quit smoking.
© 2017 Jake Ames, MD, HMD All Rights Reserved