AskDocDoc
/
/
/
What are the causes of brain stroke?
FREE! Ask a Doctor — 24/7, 100% Anonymously
Get expert answers anytime. No sign-up needed.
Nervous System Disorders
Question #12136
45 days ago
74

What are the causes of brain stroke? - #12136

Shlok

I am really worried about my uncle. Last week he just suddenly collapsed while watching TV, and when we called an ambulance, they said it was a brain stroke. I never really thought about that before. What are the causes of brain stroke? They told us he had a blockage in his arteries and his blood pressure was through the roof, but I don't get how it all happened so fast. He seemed fine, like he was just getting tired easily, but nothing major. The doctors mentioned something about risk factors like smoking and diabetes, and my uncle does smoke a bit and had been dealing with high blood sugar recently. But he’s been taking meds for that, so shouldn't that help? What are the causes of brain stroke anyway? Is it mainly just lifestyle choices, or are there other health issues we should be worried about? I'm sort of frantic here trying to understand all this. I mean, he’s only in his late 50s! I can’t imagine how quick it can all go downhill. What else could've been the causes of brain stroke? Could stress or something like that play a role too? I feel like I need to get these answers so I can help him in any way possible.

FREE
Question is closed
FREE! Ask a Doctor — 24/7,
100% Anonymously
Get expert answers anytime, completely confidential.
No sign-up needed.
CTA image asteriksCTA image

Doctors’ responses

Brain strokes typically arise from either a blockage in your blood vessels (ischemic stroke) or bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke), and what you’re describing sounds like an ischemic one, often due to a clot that disrupts normal blood flow to the brain. High blood pressure is crucial here; it can damage arterial walls over time, making them more susceptible to blockages or tears. Lifestyle factors are indeed significant contributors—smoking, which harms blood vessels and boosts clot formation—along with diabetes, further complicates as uncontrolled blood sugar levels can lead to inflammation and the narrowing of arteries. Even when medications are being taken, they must be combined with lifestyle adjustments —like healthy dieting, regular exercise, and smoking cessation—that your uncle might not have fully embraced yet. It’s not always just about the pills. Stress could potentially exacerbate these risks; persistent stress might lead to elevated blood pressure or contribute to unhealthy habits that increase stroke risk. Beyond that, there are sometimes underlying health issues to monitor closely, such as high cholesterol, heart diseases like atrial fibrillation, obesity or a family history of strokes, all of which can elevate risk. Your uncle’s age and quick series of events aren’t unusual for stroke occurrences. To assist him moving forward, ensuring medical advice is followed for managing those risk factors, maintaining regular check-ups is vital. Immediate medical attention is crucial in stroke scenarios as they’re time-sensitive, so it’s fantastic you acted quickly when it happened. It might not reverse the stroke’s effects entirely, but it can prevent further damage. Hence continuing with proactive monitoring, staying updated on key health markers, and engaging with a healthcare provider for consistent follow-up is necessary to manage future risk effectively.

5807 answered questions
74% best answers
Accepted response

0 replies
FREE! Ask a Doctor — 24/7,
100% Anonymously

Get expert answers anytime, completely confidential. No sign-up needed.

About our doctors

Only qualified doctors who have confirmed the availability of medical education and other certificates of medical practice consult on our service. You can check the qualification confirmation in the doctor's profile.


Related questions