Stroke

Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases stroke risk to a greater extent in women than in men, especially in women older than 75 and regardless of their risk profile and use of warfarin.

Overview

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted or severely limited, cutting off oxygen and nutrients from brain tissue. Brain cells start dying within minutes after a stroke. Strokes are also called brain attacks, as opposed to heart attacks where blood stops flowing to the heart. There are two major types of stroke: ischaemic and haemhorragic. An ischaemic stroke occurs as a result of an obstruction within a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain, whereas a haemhorragic occurs when a weakened blood vessel ruptures. Mini-strokes, also called Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) are caused by a temporary blood clot and should be taken very seriously as they may lead to a full-blown stroke, if left untreated. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can cut your risk for a stroke significantly: follow a diet low in fat, salt and cholesterol, exercise regularly, lose weight if necessary, stop smoking and have your cholesterol and blood pressure levels checked regularly. Learn to recognise the symptoms of a stroke – early recognition and immediate medical intervention can save a victim’s life.