May is STROKE AWARENESS MONTH.
If someone asked you for a quick definition of a stroke, you would probably say that it is caused by a blood clot…and requires quick treatment with a clot-dissolving drug. These points are true for the most common strokes, called ischemic strokes, but there’s another type of stroke that doesn’t get nearly as much attention.
The “other” stroke: A hemorrhagic, or bleeding stroke (most commonly caused by a ruptured BRAIN ANEURYSM) is entirely different from an ischemic stroke—and is usually more devastating. Up to 20% of the nearly 800,000 new or recurrent strokes that occur each year in the US are hemorrhagic strokes, but they account for 40% of stroke deaths.
What makes these strokes so dangerous? Hemorrhagic strokes result from bleeding into or around the brain, a catastrophic event that damages brain tissue. In addition, as the pooled blood degrades, it releases iron from red blood cells. Iron is toxic for brain tissue.
WORST HEADACHE OF YOUR LIFE
While most people can identify the main symptoms of an ischemic stroke (for example, facial drooping…numbness or weakness on one side of the body…and/or trouble speaking), the red flags for hemorrhagic stroke are not as well known.
With hemorrhagic strokes, A SUDDEN ONSET, INTENSE HEADACHE is usually the main symptom. Sometimes mild headaches can be a warning sign a few days or weeks before this type of stroke. Important: Headache sometimes occurs with an ischemic stroke, but it’s usually accompanied by other symptoms, such as those described above. With a hemorrhagic stroke, additional symptoms may include nausea, vomiting and/or loss of consciousness. Symptoms can overlap with both types of stroke, and ONLY AN IMAGING TEST can tell the difference.
If you have a severe sudden headache that’s unusual for you: Call 911. This is particularly true if you have stroke risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure or diabetes.
Source publication: Bottom Line Health Date: December 1, 2015 Author:Edward C. Jauch, MD