A Stroke

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A stroke is a type of cardiovascular disease that affects the cerebral arteries, those blood vessels that carry blood to the brain. A stroke occurs when one of those blood vessels in the brain is obstructed or ruptures flooding the brain with blood. Depriving blood and oxygen to the brain results in those immediate cells death, causing the brain not to function properly. Once parts of the brain stop functioning, it can directly affect the areas of the body controlled (1).

A stroke can be generally be defined in two types of categories. The first and most common type of stroke is called ischemic stroke. This occurs when a blood clot (cerebral thrombosis) blocks a blood vessel in the brain. Blood flow beyond the blood clot is then restricted, and the part of the brain that relies on that blood supply becomes oxygen deficient and can die (1). A blood clot can develop in a narrowed artery that supplies the brain or can travel directly from the heart (or somewhere in the body) to an artery that supplies the brain. Blood clots are usually the result of other issues in the body that affect the normal blood flow. Common problems that affect the normal blood flow include: hardening of the arteries, irregular heart rhythms, infection of the heart valves, congenital heart defects, blood clotting disorders, inflammation of the blood vessels, etc. (2)

The less common but more deadly of the two strokes is called a hemorrhagic stroke. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when an artery in the brain leaks or bursts (2). These strokes can be broken down into two major types: cerebral and subarachnoid. A cerebral hemorrhage is when one of the cerebral arteries ruptures in the brain. A subarcachnoid hemorrhage is when the brain's surface ves...

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...lysis and loss of brain function can prohibit patients from complete recovery, but it is important to remember to take small steps and have a goal everyday.

The best way to prevent a stroke is to know your family history and other risk factors such as whether or not you: have high blood, diabetes, or smoke. Cigarette smoking is the most preventable risk factor for a stroke. Smokers are four times more likely to have a stroke than non-smokers. The nicotine and carbon monoxide in tobacco smoke reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood (4).

African Americans are more than double Caucasians with rate of first stroke. Stroke deaths are also twice as likely for African Americans that Caucasians resulting with a death rate also double. Some of these stroke disparities are due to the higher incidence of obesity, diabetes and smoking amongst African Americans (4).

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