Embolic Stroke

Embolic Stroke is generally caused due to an embolus. Embolus is a clot of blood that is formed in the body and then it travels to the brain by means of the different bloodstreams. Embolic strokes are frequently a result of the heart surgery, heart diseases, or people with atrial fibrillation- it is a condition in which the upper chambers of the heart fails to beat effectively. You will experience an embolic stroke very rapidly and that too without any warning symptoms.

An embolic stroke takes place when the blood clot starts traveling from the different parts of the body to the brain or the neck and thus causes a block in the blood vessels. The stroke is responsible for destroying the areas of the brain. The arteries that are blocked deprive oxygen and the other nutrients from the brain cells. This leads to the death of the nerve cells.

In an embolic stroke either a blood clot or a solid mass of debris is formed in the body parts but outside the brain. When this clot or the solid mass breaks loose, it travels straight to the brain and here it blocks the arteries of the brain. An embolus or a floating blood clot starts originating in the heart due to the inactive movement of the blood flow. This causes an abnormal rhythm of the heartbeats and may result in a severe heart failure.

In another type of embolic stroke, the blocking debris is the bacteria and the inflammatory cells and not the blood clot. Such an embolus occurs in the bloodstream if as such there is an infection on the heart’s valves called endocarditis. The embolic strokes accounts for about 20% of the different cases of the strokes.

Risk Factors for Embolic Stroke

* The topmost risk factors for an embolic stroke are diabetes, aging, atherosclerosis, hypertension, excessive blood clotting.

* High blood pressure is highly associated with strokes. It is said that if high blood pressure is treated effectively, there will be a considerable reduction in the death rates caused by strokes.

* Men are at a greater risk for the stroke as high as 19% as compared to the woman.

* Hereditary and race- a person having a family history of strokes is likely to face the stroke in some of the stages of his life. African Americans are at a higher risk of death due to a stroke than the Caucasians.

Recommended Reading

1. Types Of Stroke - The stroke is a sudden interruption or reduction in the blood supply to the brain. The most common reasons of...
2. Stroke And Vision Loss - Stroke is one of the largest causes for the death. It is a medical emergency and it should be treated...
3. Ischemic Stroke - The two types of strokes are the Ischemic stroke occurs due to blockage of a blood vessel; the other hemorrhagic...
4. Stroke Risk Factors - Stroke is the sudden death of some brain cells due to a lack of oxygen when the blood flow to...
5. Mini Stroke - A stroke is the sudden death of a portion of the brain cells due to a lack of oxygen. A...