Stroke is a brain attack which causes your body to become paralyzed.

It is a very common problem throughout the world.Every 1 in 6 man and every 1 in 5 woman

is at risk for developing stroke.

It is second highest cause of death and highest cause of disability in world.

What happens in Stroke?

In about 80% of cases Stroke is due to blockage of a blood vessel in brain due to blood clot.

In 20% of cases stroke is due to rupture of a blood vessel in brain.

In both cases parts of affected brain suddenly stop working.

What causes Stroke?

There are many causes: Most important causes are high blood pressure.

Especially long standing and uncontrolled high blood pressure.

Diabetes, high cholestrol and heart diseases are also important risk factor.

Another important risk factor is tobacco in form of cigratte, shisha or even chewing tobacco.

These factors over period of time affect blood vessels of brain ending up in either blockage

or rupture of them.

How do we identify Stroke?

Acronym for stroke symptoms is known as FAST

F stands for paralysis or drooping of Face A is for weakness of arms or legs

S represents slurring of Speech and inability to speak

If any one develops one or more of these symptoms suddenly they probably had a stroke

T- Stands for time means you have to rush to emergency because in stroke 'time is

brain' if you loose time you are going to loose brain.

What to do if someone has a stroke?

Take patient to emergency room as soon as possible.

An urgent CT scan is needed to find out if it is due to a blood clot or rupture of blood

vessel (or brain hemorrhage)

If it is due to a blood clot patient may benefit from a clot busting drug called tpa.

This medator can only be given with 4-5 hours.

Patient need to be admitted in hospital preferrably in a stroke care unit.

Blood pressure control and prevention of complications like pneumonia are mandatory.

Long Term Care: Stroke patients require long time to recover

usually months and have a chance of recurrence of stroke.

Long term care requires

Daily medications prescribed by doctors.

Abstinence from smoking/tobacco Rehabilitation and regular exercise

Some patient may require surgery of brain or blood vessel.

Take home Message:

Stroke is preventable if risk factors are controlled especially high blood pressure.

Stroke is treatable.

Most people can go back to work with correct treatment,