Apoplexy, also known as stroke, is caused by a blocked or ruptured artery in the brain, leading to a sudden loss of consciousness and paralysis. Symptoms include headache, vision problems, and paralysis. Transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a warning sign. Stroke is a medical emergency and can cause irreversible brain damage and disability.
Apoplexy is uncontrolled bleeding in the brain due to a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), resulting in sudden loss of consciousness and paralysis of various parts of the body. Also known as a stroke, apoplexy occurs when an artery or blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked or ruptured, severely reducing the blood supply that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain. Without oxygen and nutrients, brain cells will begin to die within minutes. A delicate balance in the amount of blood flowing to the brain is essential to avoid a stroke.
Causes. Apoplexy can occur if there is too much blood in the brain. This is called a hemorrhagic stroke. Hemorrhagic strokes occur when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures or leaks due to the onset of other diseases, such as high blood pressure and an aneurysm. Intracerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhages are two examples of this type of stroke.
Apoplexy can also occur if there is too little blood in the brain. This is an ischemic stroke and causes irreplaceable brain cells to die. Eighty percent of cases fall into this group. The two most common types of ischemic stroke are thrombotic and embolic strokes.
Symptoms. More than one of these symptoms can appear suddenly and quickly:
Headache: An unusually painful headache, followed by a stiff neck and pain in the face and between the eyes
Vision: Reduced ability to see, resulting in blurred or double vision
Aphasia: Difficulty speaking or understanding speech
Paralysis: Numbness, weakness, or immobility on one side of the body
Motor control: loss of coordination and balance
Nausea: dizziness followed by vomiting
Mental effects: confusion and problems with perception, memory and spatial orientation
Although stroke usually gives no warning, there is one possible indication that it is precipitating the condition: transient ischemic attack (TIA). TIA is very similar to a stroke, in which blood flow to certain parts of the brain is cut off. However, TIA is a temporary condition, lasting from several minutes to 24 hours and leaving no permanent side effects. The symptoms of TIA are similar to those of a stroke and are a serious warning that a full-blown seizure may be upon you shortly.
Stroke is the leading cause of disability and the third leading cause of death in the United States (US). This condition is, therefore, considered a medical emergency and requires prompt treatment to prevent or minimize serious damage. Depending on the type of stroke and the part of the brain involved, this condition can cause irreversible brain damage and subsequent disability. Severe attacks can lead to permanent paralysis on one side of the body or affect abilities such as speech, movement and memory. While some patients recover completely, two-thirds of stroke survivors experience some form of disability.
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