Stroke
A stroke is
caused by a lack of blood supply to an area of the brain, due to
blockage of a blood vessel in or leading to the brain. When blood
supply is interrupted, dysfunction of that part of the brain occurs.
Diabetes
Increases Your Risk
Warning
Signs Of A Stroke
Risk
Factors Of A Stroke For People With Diabetes
Causes
Of A Stroke
Treatment
To Reduce Risk Of A Stroke
What
You Can Do
Diabetes Increases Your Risk
People with
diabetes (type 1 or type 2) are two to three times more likely to
have a stroke than the rest of the population.
People with diabetes also tend to have:
- more severe disabilities after a stroke
- a higher frequency of recurrent stroke
- a higher risk of death after stroke
- sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg on one side of the body
- sudden dimness or loss of vision, particularly in one eye
- loss of speech or trouble talking or understanding speech
- unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness, or sudden falls, especially with the presence of the above factors
- sudden, severe headache with no apparent cause
Risk Factors Of A Stroke For People With Diabetes
Risk factors you can't change include:
Age: Almost 75% of strokes occur after age 65.
Gender: Women with diabetes are at a higher risk than men with diabetes.
Risk
factors for stroke that you can change:
Hypertension
Also called high blood pressure, hypertension is a major risk factor for stroke,
but half the people who have it don't know they have it. People with diabetes
are 40% more likely to have hypertension. Click here to return to the Hypertension section for advice.
Elevated blood fat
High blood fats (also called lipids) can lead to atherosclerosis,
which can lead to stroke. Cardiac disease such as heart attack,
congestive heart failure, and rheumatic heart disease can increase
the risk of stroke.
Tobacco
If you smoke, you have a 40% greater chance of a stroke if you're
a man and a 60% greater chance of a stroke if you're a woman. Women
who smoke and use birth control pills are 22 times more likely to
have a stroke.
Alcohol
Heavy drinking is associated with stroke.
Drugs
Drugs such as LSD, cocaine and amphetamines can increase blood pressure
and cause stroke.
Atherosclerosis is caused by fat or lipid deposits called plaques on the artery
walls. It's the most common reason for an artery being blocked,
and it occurs more commonly, advances more quickly and is present
at a younger age in people with diabetes. Risk factors that can
lead to atherosclerosis include hypertension, elevated blood fats,
and smoking.
Cardioembolism can be caused if a blood clot breaks
loose from one of the chambers of the heart and then lodges in an
artery of the brain.
Haematological abnormality is the same thing as having something wrong with the blood, such as abnormal clumping, clotting, and stickiness. Haematological abnormality occurs most commonly in people with diabetic kidney disease (nephropathy).
Treatment To Reduce Risk Of A Stroke
Three types of treatment are available to reduce the risk of stroke.
Medications such as Aspirin and Ticlid prevent the blood platelets from sticking
together and forming clots. Aspirin reduces the risk of nonfatal
stroke by 30%. Ask your physician for the dose that is appropriate
for you. Ticlid is another medication that prevents blood clotting.
It's a stronger medication than aspirin and is usually recommeded
for patients who have had a stroke despite aspirin therapy or who
are allergic to aspirin.
Anticoagulants, or blood thinners, are usually used
in patients who have strokes caused by cardioembolism or by patients
who don't respond to medications such as Aspirin or Ticlid.
Surgery. Carotid endarterectomy is a surgical procedure
that treats the narrowing of the carotid arteries of the neck, caused
by atherosclerosis. The carotid artery is opened and the buildup,
called plaque, in the artery is removed.
- know the warning signs and get emergency treatment if they occur
- pay attention to the risk factors you can change
- avoid tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs
- ask your doctor about potential risk-reducing treatments
- see your doctor regularly