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STROKE
Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. It is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot (ischemic stroke) or bursts (or ruptures - hemorrhagic stroke). When that happens, the affected part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs and dies.
Blood Clot - Ischemic Stroke
Blood ruptures - hemorrhagic stroke
What is a Stroke
Quick Tests to Identify a Stroke
Quick Tests To Identify A Stroke [REF]
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Ask the person to smile - One of the main signs of a stroke is sudden numbness or weakness in the face. This can cause the one side of the face to appear droopy. If you ask the person to smile, it is also likely that the smile will be uneven.
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Distorted speech - This can take a few forms. It can come across as sudden confusion, trouble understanding, or slurred speech.
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Sudden arm numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body). To confirm weakness, ask the person to raise his/her arms. If the person is unable or if one of the arms drops down, then this is a sign of weakness.
Ischemic Stroke
The illustration above shows how an ischemic stroke can occur in the brain.
The clot can block blood flow to a part of the brain, causing brain tissue death.
Ischemic strokes are usually caused by a piece of plaque or a blood clot that blocks blood flow to the brain.
The illustration shows how an ischemic stroke can occur in the brain. If a blood clot breaks away from plaque buildup in a carotid artery in the neck, it can travel to an artery in the brain. The clot can block blood flow to part of the brain, causing brain tissue death
The illustration shows how an ischemic stroke can occur in the brain. If a blood clot breaks away from plaque buildup in a carotid artery in the neck, it can travel to an artery in the brain. The clot can block blood flow to part of the brain, causing brain tissue death.
When plaque builds up on the inner walls of the arteries, it can lead to a disease called atherosclerosis. Plaque hardens and narrows the arteries, which limits blood flow to tissues and organs. Plaque can build up in any artery in the body, including arteries in the brain and neck. Carotid artery disease is when plaque builds up in the carotid arteries in the neck that supply blood to the brain. It is a common cause of ischemic stroke.
Plaque in an artery can also break open and cause a plaque injury. Blood platelet stick to the site of the plaque injury and clump together to form blood clots. These clots can partly or fully block an artery.
A blood clot that forms in one part of the body can also break loose and travel to the brain. This type of ischemic stroke is called an embolic stroke. Certain heart and blood conditions, such as atrial fibrillation and sickle cell disease, can cause blood clots that lead to a stroke.
Inflammation and Ischemic Stroke
Chronic (long-term) inflammation contributes to ischemic stroke. Researchers are still trying to understand this fully. We know that inflammation can damage the blood vessels and contribute to atherosclerosis, however. In addition, ischemic stroke can lead to inflammation that further damages brain cells.
Ischemic Stroke
Inflammation and Ischemic Stroke
Hemorrhagic Stroke
The illustration above shows how a hemorrhagic stroke can occur in the brain. An aneurysm in a cerebral artery breaks open, which causes bleeding in the brain. The pressure of the blood causes brain tissue death.
Sudden bleeding can cause a hemorrhagic stroke. This can happen when an artery in or on top of the brain breaks open. The leaked blood causes the brain to swell, putting pressure on it that can damage brain cells.
Some conditions make blood vessels in the brain more likely to bleed.
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Aneurysm is a balloon-like bulge in an artery that can stretch and burst.
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Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are tangles of poorly formed arteries and veins that can break open in the brain.
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High blood pressure puts pressure on the inside walls of the arteries. This pressure makes them more likely to break open, especially when they are weakened because of an aneurysm or AVM.
Stroke Prevention
Important Notification! This 2022 study concludes: "These findings may indicate that statins could reduce the risk of recurrence in patients with stroke but have no obvious preventive effect on stroke".
On this page we present the importance of diet (KETO) and GIM as good health preventive practices. You may want to adopt a practice specifically targeting stroke prevention.
A recommended such practice would be adding garlic to your diet. "Based on current research, garlic favorably affects atherosclerosis, hypertension and diabetes, and helps decrease the risk of myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke".
Additionally, "Epidemiological studies demonstrate that regular dietary intake of cocoa polyphenols reduces the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke and is inversely associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease". Note that "Cocoa is a rich source of polyphenols". Note: "While cacao refers to cacao beans that have not been roasted, what is called cocoa is made of beans that have been roasted".
Recipe For Garlic Daily Intake - Garlic with Water:
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Crush one clove of garlic,
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put it in some water eight to twelve ounces of water
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Add a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil
Let this mixture to sit for about 15 minutes before you drink it, to let its phytonutrients to be released from the crushed garlic, and also let the virgin olive oil “absorb” these phytonutrients since they're fat soluble.
Hemorrhagic Stroke
Stroke Prevention
Recipe For Garlic Daily Intake
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