Stroke

A stroke happens suddenly without warning, but the problems causing it could have been building up for years. The Neurology Care team in Waxahachie, Mesquite, and Mansfield, Texas, specializes in brain disorders like stroke. The practice’s board-certified neurologists offer stroke risk assessments and stroke prevention as well as high-quality post-stroke rehabilitation. Call Neurology Care today if you’re at risk of a stroke, or book an evaluation online.

What is a stroke?

A stroke occurs when blood can’t flow into your brain correctly or something blocks it entirely. As a result, your brain cells lack essential oxygen and begin dying. The two types of stroke are:

Ischemic strokes

An ischemic stroke (the most common kind) occurs when the carotid artery delivering oxygen-rich blood to your brain becomes blocked.

Hemorrhagic stroke

With a hemorrhagic stroke, the problem is a ruptured blood vessel in your brain.

Before experiencing a stroke, many people suffer a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or mini-stroke. TIAs only last a few minutes and don’t result in permanent brain damage. However, it’s important to receive treatment to prevent full-blown strokes in the future.

A TIA is a critical warning sign that you’re likely to suffer a stroke unless you act, so you should never ignore it.

What causes a stroke?

The blockages that cause ischemic strokes and TIAs happen when you have atherosclerosis. This disease can affect any of your arteries, developing when plaque forms and lines the artery walls.

Plaque consists of excess cholesterol and waste products in your blood that forms a sticky residue. As plaque builds up over the years, the arteries narrow, restricting blood flow. A stroke can occur if plaque blocks the carotid artery that carries blood to the brain, or a piece of hardened plaque might break off and cause a blood clot that blocks the artery.

Risk factors for atherosclerosis include:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Smoking
• Excess body weight

A stroke can be fatal or cause severe disabilities. However, you could recover and lead a normal life with prompt treatment.

What treatment would I need after a stroke?

If you suffer an ischemic stroke, you receive medications to dissolve the blockage and quickly restore blood flow. Some patients may require balloon angioplasty, a minimally invasive procedure that opens up the carotid artery.

When you have a hemorrhagic stroke, treatment aims to stop the bleeding and relieve pressure on your brain. You may need surgery to repair the damaged blood vessels.

The specialists at Neurology Care provide comprehensive stroke care. This includes risk assessments, stroke prevention measures, and post-stroke treatment and rehabilitation monitoring.

Call Neurology Care today or schedule a consultation online to learn more about stroke treatment and prevention.