Brain Stroke: What Neuroscience Says
Brain Stroke: What Neuroscience Says
Brain stroke is a big problem.It happens when blood doesn't reach a part of the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts.
Neuroscience says stroke is brain cell injury caused by interruption of blood supply.Brain cells get damaged because they don't get the blood they need.
The brain is small.It uses a lot of oxygen. About 20% of the bodys oxygen.
Nerve cells are very sensitive.They get weak if they don't have oxygen for a minutes.If blood doesn't reach them for a time they can die.
That's why stroke is called a time- emergency.
Types of Stroke
There are usually two types of stroke:
1. Ischemic Stroke
This is the common type.A blood vessel gets. Blood can't reach the brain.
The block can be caused by:
Blood clot
Cholesterol accumulation and narrowing of the arteries
Clot from the heart that moves to the brain
In this case nerve cells stop making energy because they don't have oxygen.
Then a complex chemical process called the cascade starts and toxic changes happen inside the cells.
2. Hemorrhagic stroke
a blood vessel in the brain bursts and bleeds.
This usually happens because of term high blood pressure, weak blood vessels or aneurysms.
The bleeding puts pressure on brain tissue and damages surrounding nerve cells.
What happens during a stroke?
During a stroke blood flow gets interrupted. A kind of crisis happens in the entire nervous system.
Nerve cells lose energy, calcium accumulates and harmful chemicals are released.
This process also puts healthy cells at risk.
But the brain can heal
The brain has an ability called neuroplasticity.
This means the brain can create neural connections even after damage.
That's why exercise, physiotherapy, speech practice and psychological rehabilitation are very important after a stroke.
Risk factors for stroke
Neuroscience and modern medicine have found major risk factors:
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Smoking
cholesterol
Heart disease
Stress
inactivity
Excess weight
High blood pressure is considered the biggest risk.
Warning signs of stroke
Some symptoms may appear before or during a stroke:
Facial drooping
Weakness, in an arm or leg
Slurred speech
vision
Sudden loss of balance
Severe headache
If these symptoms appear it's crucial to take the patient to the hospital away.Brain damage can be greatly reduced if treatment is received quickly.Stroke is not a physical disease.It can also affect the brain, memory, movement, emotions and personality.
Neuroscience shows us that the brain is very sensitive but adaptable.With treatment lifestyle changes and rehabilitation many people can return to a normal life.
Brain Stroke
│
├── Definition
│ ├── Blood flow to the brain is interrupted
│ ├── Or a blood vessel bursts
│ └── Causes brain cell injury
│
├── Why the Brain is Vulnerable
│ ├── Brain uses about 20% of body oxygen
│ ├── Nerve cells need constant oxygen
│ ├── Cells weaken within minutes without oxygen
│ └── Cells may die if blood flow stops too long
│
├── Stroke is a Time Emergency
│ └── Faster treatment = less brain damage
│
├── Types of Stroke
│ │
│ ├── 1. Ischemic Stroke
│ │ ├── Most common type
│ │ ├── Blood vessel becomes blocked
│ │ ├── Causes
│ │ │ ├── Blood clot
│ │ │ ├── Cholesterol buildup in arteries
│ │ │ └── Clot from heart to brain
│ │ ├── Brain cells lose oxygen
│ │ ├── Energy production stops
│ │ └── Toxic chemical cascade damages cells
│ │
│ └── 2. Hemorrhagic Stroke
│ ├── Blood vessel bursts
│ ├── Bleeding inside the brain
│ ├── Causes
│ │ ├── High blood pressure
│ │ ├── Weak blood vessels
│ │ └── Aneurysm
│ └── Bleeding pressures and damages brain tissue
│
├── What Happens During Stroke
│ ├── Blood flow interruption
│ ├── Nervous system crisis
│ ├── Nerve cells lose energy
│ ├── Calcium builds up
│ ├── Harmful chemicals released
│ └── Healthy cells become at risk
│
├── Brain Recovery
│ ├── Brain can heal through neuroplasticity
│ ├── New neural connections can form
│ └── Rehabilitation helps recovery
│ ├── Exercise
│ ├── Physiotherapy
│ ├── Speech practice
│ └── Psychological rehabilitation
│
├── Risk Factors
│ ├── High blood pressure (biggest risk)
│ ├── Diabetes
│ ├── Smoking
│ ├── High cholesterol
│ ├── Heart disease
│ ├── Stress
│ ├── Physical inactivity
│ └── Excess weight
│
├── Warning Signs
│ ├── Facial drooping
│ ├── Weakness in arm or leg
│ ├── Slurred speech
│ ├── Vision problems
│ ├── Sudden loss of balance
│ └── Severe headache
│
├── Emergency Response
│ ├── Take patient to hospital immediately
│ └── Quick treatment reduces brain damage
│
└── Effects of Stroke
├── Physical disability
├── Memory problems
├── Movement difficulties
├── Emotional changes
└── Personality changes
Conclusion
│
└── Neuroscience shows:
├── The brain is highly sensitive
├── But also adaptable
└── With treatment and rehabilitation,
many people can return to normal life