In order to function brain cells need a constant supply of oxygen and glucose from the blood stream. A stroke or cerebro-vascular accident occurs when the blood supply to a certain part of the brain is disrupted and cells began to die. The affected areas of the brain can no longer function resulting in the inability to move, speak or to see. Depending on the affected area the inability can extend to one side or both sides of the body.

A stroke is a medical emergency that can cause permanent neurological damage or death. In fact it is the second leading cause of death worldwide and the leading cause of adult disability in the U.S. There are several medical conditions that can cause a stroke. The most common causes consist in the lack of blood flow and cerebral hemorrhage due to high blood pressure.

The brain will not receive sufficient blood in one of the following situations:

• The small arteries become narrow, as a result of atherosclerosis, plaque or cholesterol
• One of the four major arteries leading to the brain becomes hard because of atherosclerosis
• One of the arteries is blocked by a blood clot

Blood clots can form anywhere in the body. The process starts when a cholesterol plaque or a calcium deposit inside an artery breaks down. Clots will form at the side of the wound and they will travel through the body. Clots can form inside the heart due to atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm problem. Those clots can block a coronary artery supplying the heart with oxygen and cause myocardial infarction but they can also block an artery in the brain and cause stroke. Generally speaking the most common risk factors of stroke include:

• Old age
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol level
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Medical conditions that favor the development of blood clots
• Drug abuse
• Genetic predisposition for abnormal blood clotting

When one or more of these factors occur together individuals can suffer a stroke. If the stroke is minor, patients might not notice any symptoms although brain tissue damage will occur. But a more severe stroke will cause noticeable symptoms. The most common signs of a stroke are:

· Sudden weakness of arm, leg and face on one side of the body associated with partial or complete loss of voluntary movement

· Sudden confusion, difficulty speaking and understanding

· Sudden difficulty seeing

· Sudden dizziness, loss of coordination and balance

· Sudden severe headache

If a person believes that he or someone next to him is having a stroke, he should ask for immediate medical support. Proper and timely care can save a patient’s life but generally the outcome of a stroke is hardly predictable. Fortunately preventing it from happening is easier.

One of the main causes of stroke is high level of cholesterol in the blood. It can lead to plaque formation and eventually to artery blockage. To prevent that, individuals can try to reach and maintain a healthy weight, avoid high cholesterol meals, eat at least on piece of fruit every day to increase the level of good cholesterol and perform physical exercises or at least half an hour of walk every day.

Another good way of preventing a stroke is to control high blood pressure. Individuals who constantly have blood pressure higher than 130/85, should take medication to reach and maintain a normal level. Besides medication they should also avoid drinking coffee, wine and avoid stress as much as possible.

Diabetes causes the small blood vessels to close prematurely. Therefore it also increases the risk of stroke. Controlling the medical condition with a healthy diet and medication is a good way of preventing fatal artery blockage in the brain.

One of the easiest ways of preventing a stroke is quit smoking. The chemicals in a cigarette can develop atherosclerosis and lead to the narrowing of arteries. The same solution is recommended for individuals using illicit drugs.

People who suffer from medical conditions that sustain the formation of blood clots, like atrial fibrillation or those who have a genetic predisposition for abnormal blood clotting are advised to take anticoagulant medications. There are several different types of anticoagulants available, like thrombin inhibitors or antiplatelet drugs. But when it comes to such medications patients should be well informed about additional risks.

For example a drug that is often prescribed to individuals suffering from atrial fibrillation is Pradaxa, a thrombin inhibitor. Although efficient against stroke, the medication can cause severe internal bleeding, a condition that can be fatal. How serious this problem is can be seen from the more than 250 death reports related to the use of the medication but also from the increasing number of Pradaxa lawsuits filed by injured patients. So if in order to prevent stroke anticoagulants are needed patients are advised to be as careful as possible, inform themselves about the symptoms of internal bleeding and contact their doctors as soon as possible if they occur.