Mini Stroke Essay

992 Words2 Pages

Stroke, also referred to as CVA or cerebrovascular accident, is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. Stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries blood and oxygen is either blocked by a clot, bursts, or ruptures (Dennis & Sen, 2015). When this happens, oxygenated blood fails to nourish tissues in the brain. Symptoms of a stroke vary and depend on the area of the brain affected. The most common symptom is weakness or paralysis of one side of the body with partial or complete loss of voluntary movement or sensation in a leg, arm or both (Dennis & Sen, 2015). There can also be speech problems, thought and/or coordination difficulty, and weak face muscles causing drooling, numbness, or tingling (Dennis & Sen, 2015). Symptoms that improve within 24 hours, or within minutes, with no evidence of a stroke are categorized as a mini stroke – or transient ischemic attack (TIA), which is caused by a temporary blood clot (Dennis & Sen, 2015). Those that have experienced a mini-stroke are at risk for a following stroke compared to those that …show more content…

Ischemic stroke occurs when there is something blocking the path of blood to the brain, while hemorrhagic stroke refers to a weakened blood vessel rupturing. Ischemic strokes are 87% more common and are like heart attacks because they are caused by oxygen being reduced or cut off completely from the heart (Dennis & Sen, 2015).
Per the American Stroke Association, 80% of strokes can be prevented (Dennis & Sen, 2015). Modifiable risk factors for stroke include: increased blood pressure, high cholesterol, not exercising, obesity, heart disease, and periodontal disease (Rudick, Wilson & Gurenlian, 2015). Race also plays a factor when it comes to an individual and their risk for stroke. African Americans are more likely to die from stroke due to their increased risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity (Rudick et al.

More about Mini Stroke Essay

Open Document