The presented case shows a woman who had suffered the symptoms of stroke, but after a while, her condition returned to normal. According to the CT of the carotids, the blockage rates are within the norm. The blood pressure can be considered high and corresponding to Stage 1 hypertension, which is common for elderly people. The cholesterol levels are high as well, yet, they are not critical to suggest being the cause of the stroke. Although stroke is treated and stopped, it is still necessary to follow preventive measures and diet.
Stroke is a cardiovascular disease characterized by the interruption of blood supply to the brain cells, referred to as Ischemic strokes. Ischemic stroke happens when a blood vessel in the brain becomes narrowed, and a blood clot forms, causing a blockage. In some cases, this blockage is only temporary, referred to as a transient ischemic attack (TIA) and is often called a mini-stroke. TIA has some less severe symptoms, including a temporary slur of speech, confusion for a short period, and then return to a normal condition (Hendrickx et al., 2020). Both TIA and ischemic stroke require immediate treatment, which contains intravenous thrombolytic medications that bust the clot. The sooner such treatment is received, the lesser the damage that is done to the brain.
Stroke is a type of disease that can happen to anyone. Yet, some populations are statistically more likely to experience it. Factors such as age, gender, lifestyle, and family history can determine whether the person is in the risk group. For example, females are more likely to be diagnosed with stroke and have a higher stroke mortality rate than males (Grotta, 2018). A family history of cardiovascular, cardiocerebral diseases, or diabetes also increases the chances of getting a stroke.
There are several non-permanent signs of race and ethnicity that may affect the physiological data of the patient, which are unknown because there is no information about her racial or ethnic origin. Nevertheless, it is important to note the risk factors associated with stroke and TIA are universal for all ethnic groups and races. The most prevalent factor that increases the likelihood of stroke is uncontrolled high blood pressure (Boulanger et al., 2019). Prevention programs often focus on people that are diagnosed with high blood pressure, as healthcare providers emphasize the importance of regular treatment and control of blood pressure. This risk factor is interconnected with other preventative measures such as diet and exercise (Singh et al., 2020). An unhealthy diet, which is saturated with fat, fried foods, salt, and sugar, increases the chance of getting a stroke and other cardiovascular conditions. The relationship between fatty foods and stroke is that fats provoke the appearance of plaques and further blockage of blood flows, which is the direct cause of stroke. Additional instructions include refusing self-medication, regular physical activity, and not following unapproved data from the Internet.
Nutritionists suggest eradicating those types of foods as they contain high amounts of cholesterol and sodium. Limiting the intake of those two elements to normal rates decreases the risk of getting a stroke. When paired with an active lifestyle and regular exercise, a healthy diet may decrease the chance of getting a stroke even in people in the risk group, such as the elderly or people with high blood pressure or diabetes (Amarenco, 2020). In addition, foods such as fish, nuts, fruits, and vegetables provide people with nutrients that strengthen blood vessels and decrease the amount of cholesterol in the blood. Hence, non-pharmaceutical interventions such as a healthy diet that limits the amount of fat and decreases blood cholesterol would be an important treatment aspect for the patient.
In conclusion, although stroke patients often manage to be saved, this disease is still dangerous and common. To prevent the appearance of the disease, it is necessary to undergo regular health checks, lead an active lifestyle, follow a specific diet, and carry out preventive measures. It is imperative to have a family history of the disease since this disease can be transmitted from older generations to younger ones.
References
Amarenco, P. (2020). Transient ischemic attack. New England Journal of Medicine, 382(20), 1933-1941. Web.
Boulanger, M., Li, L., Lyons, S., Lovett, N. G., Kubiak, M. M., Silver, L.,… & Rothwell, P. M. (2019). Effect of coexisting vascular disease on long-term risk of recurrent events after TIA or stroke. Neurology, 93(7), e707. Web.
Grotta, J. C. (2018). Antiplatelet therapy after ischemic stroke or TIA. N Engl J Med, 379(3), 291-292. Web.
Hendrickx, W., Vlietstra, L., Valkenet, K., Wondergem, R., Veenhof, C., English, C., & Pisters, M. F. (2020). General lifestyle interventions on their own seem insufficient to improve the level of physical activity after stroke or TIA: a systematic review. BMC neurology, 20(1), 1-13. Web.
Singh, N., Marko, M., Ospel, J. M., Goyal, M., & Almekhlafi, M. (2020). The risk of stroke and TIA in nonstenotic carotid plaques: a systematic review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Neuroradiology, 41(8), 1453-1459. Web.