Recognising a Stroke
When a person suffers a stroke, the blood supply to their brain
tissue has been stemmed and cells die due to lack of oxygen.
This can cause brain damage and possibly death.
A stroke occurs when the brain tissue is starved of
oxygen. When you have high blood pressure, your heart must
make a sustained effort to ensure blood is circulated around the
body. This puts added strain on your heart, and the blood
vessels that supply all body tissue; including the vessels that
supply oxygen to your brain. The continual strain on blood
vessels can cause them to become clogged up or weaken, which can in
turn lead to narrow blood vessels and blood clots.
When a blood clot forms a blockage in an artery leading to the
brain, or in a blood vessel inside the brain, it can result in a
stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA or ministroke).
Whilst strokes are more common in over 65's, they do still occur
in any age group. A number of factors can make you more
likely to have a stroke, including:
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Poor diet
- Excessive alcohol consumption
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