Causes and Natural Treatment for Stroke

Stroke is a sudden loss of consciousness and sensation caused by an interruption in the flow of blood to part or all of the brain. Stroke is also known as brain attack and cerebrovascular accident (CVA), but the term stroke best describe the dramatic suddenness with which the disorder usually strikes. Stroke is one of the leading causes of death worldwide.

Causes of Stroke:

• Embolism. Embolism is the most common cause of strokes. It is usually caused by blood clots that form in the heart. The clots may originate in the chambers of the heart, most often when the heart rhythm is irregular. The clots are also likely to form as a result of an infection of the heart valves or less often as a result of other ailments.
• Thrombosis. This usually occurs as a result of atherosclerosis, a disease that causes the arterial walls to thicken. The thickening gradually reduces the interior diameter of the artery until it is too small to carry blood under normal pressure. When the arterial diameter narrows at one or more points enough to interfere with blood flow, warning attacks often occurs. These attacks, known as Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), are brief minor strokes that last only a few seconds or minutes. They take a variety of symptoms such as; paralysis of an eye, one side of the face, or an arm or leg-depending on the site of the blockage. TIAs warn of an impending stroke that lasts longer and produces a more serious disability. After a TIA a major stroke often can be prevented by anticoagulant drugs to prevent clot formation or surgery to correct the arterial narrowing. Thrombosis in rare cases occurs as a result of injury, infection, or other causes.
• Hemorrhage. Hemorrhage-caused strokes usually occur when an artery is weakened by years of high blood pressure (hypertension). The hemorrhage produces a hematoma, a mass of blood that damages brain tissue. Less often the hemorrhage is caused by the rupturing of an aneurysm (a blistered arterial wall). If the aneurysm ruptures directly into the brain, the resulting hematoma may cause no immediate brain damage. Some days later, however, the hemorrhaged blood may cause a spasmodic constriction of the arteries that leads to a stroke from arterial blockage. Surgical removal of the aneurysm may be attempted if the initial rupture has not devastated the victim. Some patients may be helped by treatment to lower blood pressure to prevent further hemorrhaging or by surgical removal of hematoma.

Types of Stroke:

• Mild stroke in this type of stroke the functions of damaged tissue may be taken over by other areas of the brain, and the patients may gradually resume all or nearly all of their pre-stroke activities.
• Severe stroke may destroy so much of the brain that death or total incapacitation results.

Symptoms of stroke are:

• Sudden numbness of the face, arm or leg (especially on one side of the body)
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden severe headache with unknown cause

Natural Treatment: Stroke is a medical emergency, and can cause permanent brain damage and even death if not treated immediately. When treatment is given early it can reduce stroke severity. It is important to know that damaged nerve cells never recuperate and are lost forever. In this case, the healthy nerve cells carry out the functions left by the damaged nerve cells. An improved diet that is low in sodium and bad cholesterol helps to better achieve this function. Together with a healthy diet, physical therapy and speech therapy are normally the best way to rehabilitate a stroke patient.

Dietary supplement that has proven effective in the treatment and prevention of stroke includes;

• Gingko biloba has proven effective in the treatment of this problem given that it improves the circulation and nourishment of the brain.
• Vitamin C and B Complex vitamins help keep blood vessel strong,
• Vitamin E helps in the prevention of blood clots.
• Garlic acts as an anticoagulant, reinforces the arteries and clears them of bad cholesterol
• Omega-3, 6, 9 clears arteries of (LDL) cholesterol.