What Causes a Stroke?

A stroke is characterized by a sudden loss of brain function due to an interruption of blood flow to the brain following an ischemic attack (caused by the formation of a blood clot) or hemorrhage stroke (caused by the rupture of a vessel and subsequent bleeding in or around the brain).
The interruption of blood flow to the brain causes the destruction of nerve cells (neurons). The effects of a stroke vary depending on the part of the brain that was injured and the extent of damage that results. About 80% of strokes are ischemic and 20% are hemorrhagic.
Approximately 60% of people who have a stroke are dealing with a disability in the form of a paralysis, loss of sensation, memory lapses, impaired speech and vision while some people may also suffer from a depression or other emotional problems. It is possible to minimize the risks of stroke by modifying risk factors, by using certain drugs and, in some circumstances, surgery.

Ischaemic Stroke

An ischemic stroke is caused by blockage of blood flow to the brain by a blood clot. The accumulation of plaque on artery walls (atherosclerosis or "hardening of the arteries" in everyday language) is an underlying cause for many ischemic strokes.
Atherosclerosis is a process in which fatty deposits (atherosclerotic plaque) invade the inside of blood vessels, particularly the carotid arteries on either side of the neck which supply the heart and legs. The atheromatous plaque can cause a stroke by blocking the blood flow to the brain.

Hemorrhagic Stroke

A hemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding in the brain (intracerebral hemorrhage) or bleeding around the brain (subarachnoid hemorrhage) following the rupture of a blood vessel. Sometimes the brain hemorrhage is caused by high blood pressure, and in some cases, abnormalities within the structure of blood vessels (eg. Aneurysms or vascular malformations).

Risk Factors for Stroke

Many risk factors can cause a stroke. Having diabetes and hypertension increases our chances of getting stroke. There are some risk factors for stroke which you cannot change:
• age - the risk of stroke increases as you get older;
• ethnicity - a higher risk in people of African, Hispanic and South Asian descents
• family history - the risk of stroke may increase if a parent, brother or sister had a stroke before age 65;
• gender - men are at greater risk of stroke than women who are not yet menopausal;
• history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) - it is estimated that up to 30% of people who have suffered a stroke or TIA will experience another stroke within 5 years.

There are some causes of stroke that you can control:
• high blood pressure;
• heart disease or atrial fibrillation (irregular heart beats);
• smoking;
• diabetes;
• a high cholesterol;
• physical inactivity;
• heavy drinking (more than 2 drinks daily);
• stress.

Other factors that can cause a stroke, include:
• other medical conditions such as amyloid angiopathy and antiphospholipid syndrome;
• the use of illicit drugs such as cocaine or LSD;
• medication such as tamoxifen , phenylpropanolamine, and thrombolytics.

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