Stroke

A stroke is caused by the sudden death of brain cells due to a lack of oxygen.  Strokes primarily occur when the blood flow to the brain is impaired by a blockage or rupture of an artery to the brain.  A stroke is also known medically as a cerebrovascular accident or CVA.

Strokes have many symptoms that depend upon the area of brain being affected.  The most common symptom of a stroke is paralysis or weakness of one side of the body with partial or total loss of voluntary movement or sensation in an arm or leg.  Strokes can also cause speech problems and weak face muscles, causing drooling.  Numbness or tingling is very common during strokes.  A stroke localized at the base of the brain can affect body functions such as balance, vision, ability to swallow, breathing and even consciousness.

Strokes can be caused by a clot that blocks an artery to the brain (thrombosis). Strokes of this nature typically occur in a blood vessel that has previously been narrowed by arteriosclerosis.  Strokes can also be caused when a blood clot or a piece of an arterial plaque breaks loose and travels through the circulatory system, lodging itself into an artery of the brain, plugging it up and stopping the flow of blood.  This is known as an embolic stroke.  A blood clot can form in a chamber of the heart when the heart beats irregularly.  Such clots generally stay attached to the inner lining of the heart but sometimes they break off, travel through the blood stream, and form a plug (embolism) in a brain artery to cause a stroke.  Strokes can also be caused by cerebral hemorrhages from aneurysms (a widening and weakening) of a blood vessel in the brain. 

More Disease Information: Alzheimers, Arterial Plaque, Arteriosclerosis, Blood Clotting, Chest Pain, Cholestasis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Circulatory System, Coronary Disease, Heart Attack, Disease, Heart Disease, Inflammatory Disorder, Mononucleosis, Obesity, Preeclamsia, Stroke, Vascular

Stroke Nutraceutical Products: Essential Seven