Stroke is a condition whereby blood vessel to the brain is blocked or ruptured. The brain tissue gets damaged because of lack of oxygen. When that part of brain tissue dies the function of that brain tissue will be lost. Among the main symptoms are fainting, unconsciousness and/or weakness of limbs.

Stroke is a devastating illness causing severe disability in adult. Hospital records show a progressive increase in stroke and death due to stroke at government hospitals. In Kuala Lumpur Hospital, 1000 stroke cases are seen per year with 30% – 35%, deaths due to stroke.

What causes stroke?

• Blood is brought to the brain by blood vessels called arteries.
• Thrombotic/ischaemic stroke occurs when an artery to the brain is blocked.
• Haemorrhagic stroke occurs when an artery to the brain bursts.

Risks factors for getting stroke that cannot be controlled are :

• Age – the older you are, especially above 65, you are at higher risk to get stroke
• Gender- Men are at slightly higher risk to get stroke than women.
• Family history – A higher risk exists if you or your family has had a stroke or minor stroke (transient ischemic attack).

The factors that increase your risk of getting stroke are :

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Blood pressure refers to the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels, and constitutes one of the principal vital signs. The pressure of the circulating blood decreases as blood moves through arteries, arterioles, capillaries, and veins; the term blood pressure generally refers to arterial pressure, i.e., the pressure in the larger arteries, the blood vessels that take blood away from the heart. Arterial pressure is most commonly measured via a sphygmomanometer, which historically used the height of a column of mercury to reflect the circulating pressure . Today blood pressure values are still reported in millimetres of mercury (mmHg), though aneroid and electronic devices do not usemercury.

Basically blood circulation in the human body is managed by two different sets of blood vessels. High blood pressure, which is also known as hypertension, is a condition in which there is an elevation of pressure in the blood vessels of the systemic circulation. Then there is pulmonary hypertension which is similar but which is a much rarer disease, and which results from a constriction of the blood vessels that supply blood to the lungs.

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