Stroke Flashcards
What is a stroke?
Sudden death of brain tissue due to lack of oxygen and glucose delivery arising from an interrupted blood supply (ischaemia)
How many deaths per year are caused by strokes in the UK?
152,000
1 every 3.5 minutes
How many first time strokes were there worldwide in 2010/
17 million
1 every 2 seconds
Whats the difference in men and women and the likelihood of getting a stroke?
Men are 25% higher risk of having stroke compared to women
However, incidence of stroke in women is higher due to longer lifespan
How many stroke survivors are there in the UK?
Around 1.2 million
How many strokes are fatal within the first 30 days?
1 in 8
How many strokes are fatal within the first year?
1 in 4
What are modifiable risk factors towards a stroke?
Hypertension- single most important modifiable risk factor
Smoking
Waist to hip ratio
Diet (i.e. obesity)
Physical inactivity
Diabetes
Alcohol intake (>30 drinks per month)
Psychological factors (stress, depression)
Cardiac causes (Atrial fibrillation, Previous transient ischaemic attack)
Apoliopoproteins
o All 10 combined about for 90% of risk of stroke
What are non-modifiable risk factors towards a stroke?
Age- most important risk factor
Gender
Ethnicity- Black and south Asian origin
What is stroke the leading cause of?
Disability
How many stroke survivors are dependent on others?
More than half 42% will be independent 22% have mild disability 14% have moderate disability 10% have severe disability 12% have very severe disability
What are the stroke warning signs?
Face
Arms
Speech
Time
What are the stroke subtypes?
15% primary intracerebral haemorrhage
5% subarchanoid haemorrhage
80% ischaemic
What are the subtypes of ischaemic stroke?
Thrombotic stroke
Embolic stroke
What is a thrombotic stroke caused by?
A blood clot in an artery supplying the brain
What is the most common cause of thrombotic stroke?
Atherosclerosis- results in narrowing of arteries
Accounts for half of all strokes
How is an embolic stroke caused?
Blood clot forms elsewhere in the body and travels to the brain
What is the most common cause of embolic stroke?
Atrial fibriliation- increased risk of clots
Air bubbles, plaque form in an artery wall
When does a haemorrhagic stroke occur?
Occurs when a blood vessel within the brain ruptures
What can cause a haemorrhagic stroke?
Aneurysm
Arteriovenous malformation
What is an aneurysm?
Ballooning of weakened region of blood vessel
What is arteriovenous malformation?
Abnormal connection between arteries and veins. Increased risk of bleeding due to increased pressure