Childhood Stroke Deaths Remain Higher In Boys

Research published ahead of print in the Archives of Disease in Childhood reports that despite steady falls since the 1960s, death rates from childhood stroke remain significantly higher in boys than in girls.

Although stroke is popularly believed to affect only elderly adults, stroke is among the top ten causes of death among infants and children. Death rates [...]

How can stroke be prevented?

One way to prevent a stroke is to notice a transient ischemic attack (TIA) – or mini stroke – that provides symptoms similar to stroke. Knowing the symptoms of stroke can lead to earlier treatment and better recovery.
Much of stroke prevention is based on living a healthy lifestyle. This includes:

Knowing and controlling blood pressure
Finding out [...]

Stroke treatment

The primary goal in treating ischemic stroke is to restore blood flow to the brain. This will be attempted using blood clot-busting drugs such as aspirin, heparin, or tissue plasminogen activators that must be administered within three hours of the stroke. In addition, surgical procedures may be performed that can open up or widen arteries. [...]

Diagnosis of stroke

A stroke is a medical emergency, and anyone suspected of having a stroke should be taken to a hospital immediately so that tests can be run and the correct treatment can be provided as quickly as possible.
Physicians have several tools available to screen for stroke risk and diagnose an active stroke. These include:

Physical assessment [...]

Symptoms of stroke

Within a few minutes of having a stroke, brain cells begin to die and symptoms can become present. It is important to recognize symptoms, as prompt treatment is crucial to recovery. Common symptoms include:

Dizziness, trouble walking, loss of balance and coordination
Speech problems
Numbness, weakness, or paralysis on one side of the body
Blurred, blackened, or double vision
Sudden [...]

CAUSES OF STROKE

Ischemic strokes are ultimately caused by a thrombus or embolus that blocks blood flow to the brain. Blood clots (thrombus clots) usually occur in areas of the arteries that have been damaged by atherosclerosis from a buildup of plaques. Embolus type blood clots are often caused by atrial fibrillation – an irregular pattern of heart [...]

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