Ischemic stroke

Ischemic stroke or ictus is a serious medical condition involving the interruption of blood flow to a part of the brain due to blockage of a blood vessel. It is one of the most urgent reasons for urgent neurological care.

Stroke is a medical condition in which blood flow to an area of the brain is interrupted, depriving it of oxygen and nutrients. In ischemic stroke, the sudden interruption of flow is caused, in most cases, by the presence of a clot that may form in the vessels of the brain or in another vessel from which it breaks off and travels through the bloodstream. There are other minority causes such as stenosis or narrowing of the arteries, the result of a sustained decrease in cardiac output, chronic arterial hypotension or due to compressive phenomena on the vascular wall such as abscesses, cysts or tumors.

Although there are certain genetic factors that may contribute, stroke is mainly influenced by environmental factors, among which are:

• Age, ethnicity and gender. It is more frequent in people over 55 years of age, men, and those of African-American or Hispanic origin.
• Obesity or overweight
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Unhealthy diet, rich in sugars and fats.
• Consumption of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs of abuse.
• Uncontrolled hypertension
• High cholesterol or triglyceride levels.
• Diabetes
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Cardiovascular disease, including heart failure, atrial fibrillation, arrhythmia, etc.
• Personal or family history of ischemic stroke.
• Certain medications, such as hormonal contraceptives.
• Certain infections such as covid-19, meningitis or HIV, among others.

Ischemic stroke is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention. Early identification of symptoms is critical to the patient's prognosis.

The most common symptoms are as follows:

• Difficulty in speaking or understanding what others are saying occurs.
• Weakness or paralysis of the face, arm and/or leg. Some paralysis on one side of the body is common, depending on the area affected.
• Vision problems, such as blurred vision, double vision or shadow sensation.
• Headache, which is usually sudden and may be accompanied by vomiting or dizziness.
• Problems walking or maintaining balance.

Strokes are largely preventable as they are mainly influenced by environmental factors. Among the most effective measures are:

• Good maintenance of blood pressure levels.
• Controlling cholesterol levels, through the use of medication if hygienic measures are not sufficient.
• Healthy eating, reducing the consumption of foods rich in fats and sugars and prioritizing the intake of fruit, vegetables, healthy fats, nuts, whole grains, etc.
• Avoid consumption of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Practice regular exercise
• Treat obstructive sleep apnea.

If you have had a previous stroke, in addition to the above measures, it is very likely that you will need to take certain medications to reduce the risk of recurrence. Among the most common preventive drugs are antiplatelet drugs and anticoagulants.