Prominent Aspects of Stroke
Stroke occurs when blood flow to a portion of the brain is reduced or halted, causing the brain’s tissues to be deprived of the required nutrients and oxygen, culminating in the death of the brain’s cells (Katan & Luft, 2018). If a blood clot forms or a blood artery ruptures, it is possible for the brain to become starved of blood and nutrition. The death of brain tissue occurs as a result of a lack of nutrients and oxygen in the bloodstream. When a stroke happens, it is considered a medical emergency that must be addressed as soon as possible. Ischemic strokes, hemorrhagic strokes, and transient ischemic attacks are the three most common types of stroke. The development of an ischemic stroke occurs when the blood arteries that supply nutrients to the brain get clogged. Obesity-related constriction of the blood vessels is caused by a deposit of fat within the arteries. When a hemorrhagic stroke occurs, blood vessels burst or spill over into the brain. In addition to trauma, ischemic stroke that progresses to hemorrhagic stroke, protein deposits in the walls of blood vessels, uncontrolled high blood pressure, and the overuse of anticoagulants are all associated with hemorrhagic stroke. A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a condition in which the blood flow to the brain is momentarily decreased or interrupted. Slurred speech, confusion, weakness in one arm or leg, and a sense of unsteadiness are all indications of a transient ischemic attack (TIA).
Current Data and Statistics
Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in the United States and throughout the world. Each year, this condition affects an estimated one million Americans (American Heart Association, 2021). Every 40 seconds, a stroke happens in the United States, and every four minutes, a person dies from a stroke. Each year, around 140,000 people in the United States die from a stroke (American Heart Association, 2021). In the United States, strokes are the greatest cause of long-term disability. Nearly two-thirds of the United States’ 7 million stroke sufferers are permanently incapacitated as a result of their condition (American Heart Association, 2021). Each year, about 13 million people worldwide suffer the effects of a stroke (World Stroke Organization, 2021). According to the World Health Organization, 5.5 million people die each year from stroke. According to the World Stroke Organization, stroke claims more than 6 million lives each year (World Stroke Organization, 2021).
Health Disparities Related to Stroke
Ethnicity, socioeconomic level, and race are all factors that contribute to disparities in the incidence of stroke. Nationally, ethnic minorities are more likely than non-Hispanic whites to experience a stroke, according to the American Stroke Association. Among blacks, there is a statistically significant difference in the chance of having a stroke with age. The Mexican American cultural group’s younger members are more likely to suffer a stroke than their older counterparts. As a result, ethnic minorities are underinformed about the risk factors that contribute to strokes and other cardiovascular diseases. Stroke awareness is 30 percent greater among African-Americans than among whites, according to the American Heart Association (Schroff et al., 2017). Persons with greater levels of education understand and treat hypertension more effectively than those with lower levels of education. When it comes to stroke symptoms, people of Hispanic and African-American heritage are less likely to recognize them or to contact 911 if they suffer unusual symptoms, according to research. Health disparities associated with stroke should be addressed in light of the justice principle, which holds that no individual or group should suffer more than others as a result of their actions.
Prevention Strategies
Following a healthy lifestyle, being aware of risk factors, and listening to your doctor’s instructions are the most effective ways to avoid having a stroke. Stroke prevention and treatment can be made easier by making healthy lifestyle choices such as controlling blood pressure and cholesterol in the diet (by quitting smoking), preventing diabetes, maintaining a healthy weight, and engaging in regular physical activity (Wein et al., 2018). Regular exercise can help to lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and overall health, all of which reduce the risk of having a stroke. Exercise also helps to lessen the risk of having a stroke. Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, nuts, and whole grains may lower the chance of having a stroke. Changing one’s diet to lower cholesterol intake has been shown to lessen the accumulation of cholesterol in arterial walls. The usage of anticoagulants and antiplatelet medicines is essential in the prevention of stroke.
Contemporary Research and Clinical Studies Related to Stroke
Stroke risk factors are currently being investigated by scientists. Research shows that stress is the most common cause of stroke. Approximately 87% of all strokes in the United States were caused by ischemic stroke, according to a recent study. Ischemic stroke has thus become the subject of much current research in the field (Barthels & Das, 2020). Risk factors for ischemic stroke include the use of tobacco products; high blood pressure; poor eating habits; and diabetes. Only tPA, or tissue plasminogen activator, has been approved by the FDA for use in the treatment of ischemic strokes. As fibrin is degraded and eliminated from the bloodstream by Plasminogen activator (PA), blood clots begin to dissolve.
An Analysis of the Pathophysiologic Effects of Stress-Related to Stroke
Stress is a risk factor for stroke because it has an adverse effect on brain function. Stress weakens the heart’s muscles and dilates its blood vessels over time, increasing the likelihood of having a heart attack or having a stroke. It has been discovered that the stress hormone cortisol is associated with chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol (Kurisu & Yenari, 2018). According to study, there may possibly be a link between stress and ischemic stroke. Therefore, stress management is a critical component of ischemic stroke risk reduction.
Evidence-Based Stress Management Interventions
The use of behavioral therapies, such as stress management, in the prevention of stroke is essential. Numerous metrics are being investigated in order to give evidence-based strategies and guidelines for stroke prevention, because every disease prevention strategy helps to minimize the illness burden associated with the disease (Wein et al., 2018). Patients’ risk of having a stroke can be minimized by educating them about healthy lifestyle choices and treating psychological stressors in their lives.
References
American Heart Association. (2021). Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000950
Barthels, D., & Das, H. (2020). Current advances in ischemic stroke research and therapies. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Molecular Basis of Disease, 1866(4), 165260.
Katan, M., & Luft, A. (2018, April). Global burden of stroke. In Seminars in neurology (Vol. 38, No. 02, pp. 208-211). Thieme Medical Publishers.
Kurisu, K., & Yenari, M. A. (2018). Therapeutic hypothermia for ischemic stroke; pathophysiology and future promise. Neuropharmacology, 134, 302-309.
Schroff, P., Gamboa, C. M., Durant, R. W., Oikeh, A., Richman, J. S., & Safford, M. M. (2017). Vulnerabilities to Health Disparities and Statin Use in the REGARDS (Re asons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke) Study. Journal of the American Heart Association, 6(9), e005449.
Wein, T., Lindsay, M. P., Cote, R., Foley, N., Berlingieri, J., Bhogal, S., … & Gladstone, D. J. (2018). Canadian stroke best practice recommendations: Secondary prevention of stroke, practice guidelines, update 2017. International journal of stroke, 13(4), 420-443.
World Stroke Organization. (2021). Stroke. Retrieved from https://www.world-stroke.org/world-stroke-day-campaign/why-stroke-matters/learn-about-stroke
write