A stroke happens when blood flow to a part of your brain is cut off. Without the oxygen in blood, brain cells start dying within minutes. To help prevent it, learn about the causes and the things that can raise your odds of getting one.
Types
It can happen in two main ways: Something blocks the flow of blood, or something causes bleeding in the brain.
Ischemic stroke. In 8 out of 10, a blood vessel that takes blood to your brain gets plugged. It happens when fatty deposits in arteries break off and travel to the brain or when poor blood flow from an irregular heartbeat forms a blood clot.
Hemorrhagic stroke. It’s less common than an Ischemic but can be more serious. A blood vessel in your brain balloons up and bursts, or a weakened one leaks. Uncontrolled high blood pressure and taking too much blood thinner medicine can lead to this kind.
Some people have what’s called a transient ischemic attack (TIA). This “mini stroke” is due to a temporary blockage. It doesn’t cause permanent brain damage, but it raises your odds of having a full-scale stroke.
Causes
You can treat some conditions that make you more likely to have it. Other things that put you at risk can’t be changed:
High blood pressure. Your doctor may call it hypertension. It’s the biggest cause of it. If your blood pressure is typically 140/90 or higher, your doctor will discuss treatments with you.
Tobacco. Smoking or chewing it raises your odds of it. Nicotine makes your blood pressure go up. Cigarette smoke causes a fatty buildup in your main neck artery. It also thickens your blood and makes it more likely to clot. Even secondhand smoke can affect you.
Heart Disease. This condition includes defective heart valves as well as atrial fibrillation, or irregular heartbeat, which causes a quarter of all among the very elderly. You can also have clogged arteries from fatty deposits.
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Diabetes. People who have Diabetes often have high blood pressure and are more likely to be overweight. Both raise the chance of it. Diabetes damages your blood vessels, which makes it more likely. When your blood sugar levels are high, the injury to your brain is greater.
Weight and exercise. Your chances of it may go up if you’re overweight. You can lower your odds by working out every day. Take a brisk 30-minute walk, or do muscle-strengthening exercises like pushups and working with weights.
Medications. Some medicines can raise your chances of it. For instance, blood-thinning drugs, which doctors suggest to prevent blood clots, can sometimes make it more likely through bleeding. Studies have linked hormone therapy, used for menopause symptoms like hot flashes, with a higher risk of it. And low-dose estrogen in birth control pills may also make your odds go up.
Age. Anyone could have it, even babies in the womb. Generally, your chances go up as you get older. They double every decade after age 55.
Family. It can run in families. You and your relatives may share a tendency to get high blood pressure or diabetes. Some can be brought on by a genetic disorder that blocks blood flow to the brain.
Gender. Women are slightly less likely to have it than men of the same age. But women have it at a later age, which make them less likely to recover and more likely to die as a result.
Please note that regular First Aid and CPR Training is the best way to make sure that you’re prepare in the case of an emergency. Book a course with us!
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