Research Paper on Stroke: Causes, Effects, and Prevention

Introduction

Every year more people are diagnosed and are dying from stroke and stroke-related factors. In the United States, statistics show that every year, approximately 700,000 people are diagnosed with stroke, and 160000 are dying from the condition related factors (Mozaffarian, et al,. 2016). Stoke is ranked among the leading killer diseases in the world and therefore demand close analysis and study by medical research with the intention of creating medical interventions and solvable measure towards combating the damage associated with the condition medically and economically. Stroke in the past has caused devastating problems to families and individuals diagnosed with the condition as it causes a lot of dependencies which is economical, financially and time draining. In this research, therefore, stoke will be defined, it causes, effects and preventative measures analyzed.

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Causes of Stroke

Stroke commonly occurs due to poor blood circulation. The blood vessel that transport oxygenated blood and nutrients to the brain may bust or block due to clotting preventing proper blood circulation to the brain causing the brain to begin dying. Due to the differences in the cause, there are different types of strokes. One is that caused by blood vessel blockage while another is caused by bleeding in the brain due to vain rapture (Brainin & Heiss, 2014). Blockage of the blood vessels in the neck or brain also referred to as thrombosis is the leading cause of over 80% of stroke cases (Mozaffarian, et al,. 2016). This kind of stroke is referred to as the ischemic stroke. Busting of the vessels cause bleeding in the brain result in hemorrhagic stroke.

Stroke Risk Factors and Prevention Solution

Certain risk factors have been discovered by scientist as possible causes of stroke. However, having the risk factor does not necessarily mean one will get stroke nor do absence of the projected risk factor mean one is free from stroke. When the identified risk factors increase, one is at high risk of getting stroke and severity also increases. There are many risk factors for stroke, and as more research is done in the field, more factors continue to be registered. In this case, the most known risk factors are one age.

Untreatable Stroke Risk Factors

Age

Stroke can attack a person of any age, but studies indicate that the elderly between the age of 60- 80 and above have high chances for a stoke. Also, during the prenatal period, a child is at risk of stroke.

Gender

Gender is another factor and according to O'Donnell, et al., men are at higher risk of stroke than women. Studies also show that more women die from stroke than men despite men being at high risk. The finding is explained in that men do not live long like the women, and as a result, men get a stroke when younger and therefore, survival chances are higher minimizing more incidences of death , unlike women who acquire the condition when old minimizing the survival chances.

Genetics

Family history is another stroke risk factor. There are constant registered cases of stroke running in the family making the condition hereditarily. People who come from a family with hereditary predisposing conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes have high tendencies also of getting the diseases.

Race

The race is another risk factor. certain persons from the certain ethnic group have a high risk of the condition. For example, in United states studied show that persons from the black American community have high reported cases of stroke than the Caucasian and Hispanics. Stroke cases in among the black American often deadly and occur in persons of ages (Brainin & Heiss, 2014).

Treatable Stroke Risk Factors

Hypertension

All the above-mentioned risk factors for stroke are untreatable, and therefore the treatable risk factors include one high blood pressure. High blood pressure is the most known leading risk factor for stroke. Hypertension, therefore, needs to be treated medically to help prevent possible cases of stroke. To reduce hypertension certain measures are advised such constant excising, healthy eating, and visiting doctors to work out a formula to solve the problem or lower blood pressure (O'Donnell, et al., 2016). In Some cases, medicine is prescribed to lower blood pressure cases. Control of hypertension helps prevent heart diseases, kidney failure, and diabetes.

Drug and Substance Abuse

Drug and substance abuse is another treatable stroke risk factor. Smoking cigarette is associated with ischemic stroke and increases chances of hemorrhagic stroke. The constant smoking results in atherosclerosis in the arteries and especially in the main neck artery which supplies blood to the brain. As stated earlier, blood vessel blockage is the leading cause of stroke. Drug abuse such as the use of narcotic read to increased blood pressure placing one at risk of stroke. Cigarette smoking leads to reduced oxygen intake in the blood and at the same time cigarette smoke cause blood thickening which translates into blood clotting. Is important that one quite using any of the drugs especially smoking and this can be done voluntarily or by one joining a medical program that counsel addicts. Quitting drugs help reduce heart-related infection and lung cancer which are also stroke predisposing factor (Brainin & Heiss, 2014).

Obesity

Obesity is another treatable risk factors. Inactive people and ingestion of high cholesterol foods can cause obesity. Obesity is related closely to heart diseases and blood pressure which are stroke predisposing risk factors. Obesity can lead to schematic stroke and as a result extra exercising, dieting or healthy eating, and medical care can help solve obesity and obesity-related problem and minimize cases of stroke (O'Donnell, et al., 2016).

Heart Diseases

Heart diseases such as irregular heartbeats, valve defects and coronary artery diseases among other heart condition can easily cause blood clotting preventing blood from reaching the brain as expected to translate into the stroke. According to Mozaffarian, et al,, over 80 percent of the stroke cases among the elderly is caused by heart-related condition especially arterial fibrillation. In most cases, the problem is quite alarming resulting in death or disability. It is, therefore, necessary to have a constant medical check-up to ensure the heart is functioning properly. Also, certain medications can be prescribed such as aspirin which helps prevent blood clotting. When a problem is identified early of blood clotting, surgery can be done early to help solve the problem.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a stroke predisposing factor; when a person is diagnosed with diabetes, the body functionality is weakened. Based on studies, a person diagnosed with diabetes is 15 years older than normal (Brainin & Heiss, 2014). Blood vessels in the body of a diabetic person are destructed and poorly functioning and as result blood flow to the brain is challenged. Many persons diagnosed with diabetes are also highly likely to have hypertension and as a result, placing one at a higher risk of a stroke. To solve the problem, one needs to see a medical practitioner and help treaty diabetes, delaying and reducing stroke cases.

Symptoms of Stroke

Stroke recovery process is variable since some individuals have a slow recovery process, others end up disabled while other persons result in death. It is therefore important to be aware of the possible symptoms and take necessary medical measures before the diseases get worse. Some of the common symptoms, therefore, include weakness in facial muscles, weak arms and leg all at the same time, poor muscle coordination, difficulties in speaking , feeling dizzy , vision problems and constant migraines also the loss of consciousness (Brainin & Heiss, 2014).

References

Mozaffarian, D., Benjamin, E. J., Go, A. S., Arnett, D. K., Blaha, M. J., Cushman, M., ... & Howard, V. J. (2016). Heart disease and stroke statistics-2016 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation, 133(4), e38-e360.

Brainin, M., & Heiss, W. D. (Eds.). (2014). Textbook of stroke medicine. Cambridge University Press.

O'Donnell, M. J., Chin, S. L., Rangarajan, S., Xavier, D., Liu, L., Zhang, H., & Lopez-Jaramillo, P. (2016). Global and regional effects of potentially modifiable risk factors associated with acute stroke in 32 countries (INTERSTROKE): a case-control study. The Lancet, 388(10046), 761-775.