Approximately 550,000 people suffer a stroke each year nearly 150, 000 people die from stroke, and about 3 million stroke survivors have varying degrees of residual neurological impairment.
It is a disease of the brain and is caused by a blockage or rupture of the essential blood supply that results in an acute clinical syndrome lasting more than 24 hours.
There is clear neurological deficit and some degree of permanent brain damage.
Based on the blood vessel involved the symptoms are different and specific and often help pinpoint the exact location of the lesion in the central nervous system.
The two most common types of stroke are:
*Ischemic – blockage
*Hemorrhagic (intracerebral) – bleeding
While some risk factors for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke are different, the following risk factors are applicable to 90% of strokes:
*High blood pressure
*Smoking
*Waist to hip ratio
*Unhealthy diet
*Consuming too much alcohol
What is stroke?
