What is Paralysis (Stroke)?
A stroke is damage to brain tissue due to a rupture, blockage, or clot in the blood vessels that feed the brain. The resulting loss of sensation, strength, and voluntary movement in the hands, arms, face, or legs is called paralysis. This occurs when a part of the brain or blood vessels within the brain are damaged. Stroke is among the diseases that cause the greatest loss of function, or in other words, permanent disability.
Symptoms of Stroke
A stroke causes brain damage, manifesting with symptoms such as sudden fainting, loss of balance, and double vision. If you or someone around you is experiencing a stroke, it's important to pay attention to the time when the symptoms of neuralgia begin. This is because patients who receive treatment within the first hours of symptoms begin to benefit most from this condition. Stroke symptoms can be listed as follows:
- Sudden loss of consciousness or fainting
- Percentage shift
- Speech impairment
- Weakness in the arm or leg on the same side
- Double vision or sudden vision loss
- Loss of balance
- Visual impairment
- Difficulty swallowing
- Cognitive impairments
- Numbness in the arm and leg area
- Drooping or retraction at the corner of the mouth
If one or more of these symptoms are present, it's essential to seek immediate medical attention. It's important not to waste time waiting for symptoms to change. Every minute, every second is crucial for a stroke. The longer a stroke goes untreated, the greater the potential for brain damage and disability.
Symptoms of Stroke
A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is reduced or interrupted, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients, and brain cells begin to die within minutes. Temporary or permanent loss of function occurs in the area where the stroke occurred. A stroke can occur for the following reasons:
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Hormone treatments
- Smoking and alcohol use
- Dyslipidemia (excess blood fats in the body)
- Lack of exercise
- Heart rhythm disturbance
- Brain hemorrhage
There are two types of stroke: ischemic stroke, caused by a blocked blood vessel, and hemorrhagic stroke, caused by a leaking blood vessel. Some patients experience a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which occurs when blood flow to the brain is temporarily interrupted and doesn't cause permanent symptoms.
