Yes, strokes can be partially prevented. A stroke is caused by a disruption in blood flow to the brain. We divide them into two types: ischemic and hemorrhagic. An ischemic stroke is caused by an obstruction of blood flow; Generally there is a thrombus that blocks (blocks) a cerebral artery. And that triggers a series of pathophysiological mechanisms that lead to the death of the cells that are supposed to maintain that blood circulation. This is the most common. Approximately 80% of strokes have an ischemic cause.
Hemorrhagic stroke accounts for the remaining 20% of cases and occurs when a vessel in a cerebral artery ruptures. In this case, some pathophysiological mechanisms also occur that, as in an ischemic stroke, ultimately lead to the death of the brain cells that were supposed to receive the blood.
It is a disabling condition that occurs most often in adults, although there are also some strokes in children. But in adults it is one of the first causes of acquired disability.
More information
As I said at the beginning, strokes can be partially prevented. When we talk about ischemic strokes, there are two main causes. There is a group of causes related to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk factors that we know as common vascular risk factors, namely hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia (the fundamental change in the levels of fat, cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood). ), smoking and some studies also talk about obesity. These vascular risk factors cause the vessels to harden or atheromatous plaques to build up, essentially leading to the closure of the vessels or the occurrence of an embolism (when some of the atheromatous plaques break off and block a blood vessel). This is the most common cause of ischemic strokes.
The second most common cause of these strokes is of cardioembolic origin, meaning there is a disease of the heart that causes an embolism that travels through the bloodstream to the brain, causing an ischemic stroke. In the first case I’m talking about, if you prevent these pathologies (hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol, avoiding smoking, etc.), you at the same time prevent the possible occurrence of a stroke. Cardioembolic-ischemic stroke is about preventing an embolism from the heart. Basically, this happens when there is a cardiac arrhythmia, and if the cardiac arrhythmia is treated with appropriate medication, usually anticoagulants, an embolism and thus a possible stroke can be prevented.
Hemorrhagic stroke involves vascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, but there are also other causes such as the buildup of abnormal proteins, such as amyloid, in the brain, which are more difficult to prevent. However, treating high blood pressure prevents both ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke.
Stroke is a very serious disease in Spain, which before the Covid pandemic was the most common cause of death in women and the third most common in men. In addition, it is a very important cause of disability. The first as an acquired disability. And it is the second cause of dementia. And although it can occur in children, this is very rare. In general, the risk of suffering a stroke increases with increasing age.
Iolanda Riba full She is a neurologist specializing in dementia at the University Hospital of Santa Maria (Lleida). He completed his doctoral thesis in the field of stroke prevention at the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (Barcelona).
Question sent via email by Paula García
Coordination and writing: Victoria Toro
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