Strokes deprive brain cells of oxygen and are one of the most common causes of death and a primary cause of preventable impairment. When someone has a stroke, getting medical attention as soon as possible is crucial, as it can often prevent lasting brain damage.
The brain accounts for about 2% of your body’s mass yet utilises over 20% of the oxygen in your blood. The oxygen is delivered to the brain via a network of arteries which divide into smaller and smaller vessels that deliver oxygen to billions of neurons. When blood flow is disrupted, oxygen delivery to the brain is halted and brain cells die.
This can happen in one of two ways. When a ruptured vessel permits blood to spill out, hemorrhagic strokes occur. Ischemic stroke, on the other hand, occurs when a clot plugs a vessel and prevents blood flow. What causes these clots to form?
A rapid change in cardiac rhythm can occasionally prevent the upper chambers of the heart from contracting correctly. Blood flow is slowed, allowing platelets, clotting components, and fibrin to clump together. The clot can travel up the arteries and blood vessels that supply the brain until it reaches one that it cannot pass through. This is known as an embolism, and it occurs when the oxygen supply to all cells downstream is cut off. Because the brain lacks pain receptors, you will not be able to feel the blockage. Oxygen deprivation, on the other hand, decreases brain function and can have immediate, observable effects. If a region of the brain that governs muscular movement is affected by a stroke, it might result in weakness on one side of the body. When this happens, the body tries to compensate by shifting blood flow to the damaged location, but this is not always successful. The oxygen-depleted cells will eventually die, resulting in brain damage that might be severe or permanent. That is why it is critical to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
The first line of treatment is an intravenous medicine called Tissue Plasminogen Activator, which can break up the blood clot and restore blood flow to the artery that has been compromised. If administered within a few hours of the onset of the stroke, this medicine dramatically increases the chances of surviving the event and avoiding long-term complications.
If Tissue Plasminogen Activator cannot be given because the patient is on certain drugs, has a history of significant bleeding, or the clot is extremely large, doctors can perform an endovascular thrombectomy to pull out the blood clot.
To protect brain function, these medications must be administered as soon as possible, so it is vital to know how to spot the signs of a stroke.
This FAST (Facial, Arm, Speech, Time) test can help you recognise the signs –
1. Ask the person to smile. Muscle weakness might be indicated by a crooked mouth or face sagging.
2. Ask them to raise their arms. If one’s arm begins to sag downward, it could be an indication of a stroke.
3. Ask them to repeat a simple word or phrase. If their speech is slurred or weird, it could be due to a lack of oxygen in the language part of their brain.
If you notice any of these symptoms, contact emergency services straight away. It might mean the difference between life and death.
