A stroke, or cerebrovascular accident, occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is lost, primarily due to a blood clot (ischemic stroke) or bleeding (hemorrhagic stroke). This loss of blood flow can lead to brain cell death, which results in potential death, brain damage, or disability, and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) indicate a heightened risk for future strokes.
What is a stroke?
A stroke, or cerebrovascular accident, occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is lost, primarily due to a blood clot (ischemic stroke) or bleeding (hemorrhagic stroke). This loss of blood flow can lead to brain cell death, which results in potential death, brain damage, or disability, and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) indicate a heightened risk for future strokes.
What are the main signs and symptoms of a stroke?
Stroke symptoms can vary based on the individual and the affected brain area, but they typically begin suddenly in approximately 96% of cases. Common symptoms include dizziness, loss of balance, one-sided weakness or numbness, slurred speech, vision problems, headache, nausea, and uncoordinated movements.
How is a stroke diagnosed?
A stroke is diagnosed by a healthcare provider through an assessment of signs and symptoms, medical history, and brain imaging scans like CT or MRI. The provider evaluates alertness, coordination, sensation, strength, and vision and may also conduct heart tests to check for blood clots and other issues.
How is a stroke managed medically?
Stroke management involves 3 main categories: acute treatment during the stroke at the hospital, poststroke rehabilitation to address disabilities, and preventative treatments to reduce the risk of recurrence through medications and lifestyle changes. These approaches aim to mitigate the immediate effects of a stroke, support recovery, and promote long-term health.
Have any supplements been studied for stroke recovery and prevention?
Certain dietary supplements have been studied for stroke recovery and prevention, and folic acid and B vitamin complex have shown potential in reducing stroke risk, particularly in regions that lack folic acid fortification. In contrast, multivitamins and nutrients like vitamin D, calcium, and vitamin C do not appear to prevent stroke, and the evidence for supplements like ginkgo and astragalus for recovery is inconclusive.
How could diet affect strokes?
A healthy diet can reduce the risk of both recurrent and first-time strokes, whereas an unhealthy diet increases that risk. Key components of a heart-healthy diet include low saturated fats, sodium, and sugar, along with high intake of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Are there any other treatments for stroke recovery and prevention?
Controlling high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol through behaviors such as regular exercise, stress reduction, and maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent stroke. These interventions are important for reducing stroke risk.
What causes a stroke?
A stroke can be caused by a blood clot (ischemic stroke) or a bleed (hemorrhagic stroke) in the brain. Various conditions can increase the risk of stroke over time, particularly uncontrolled high blood pressure, along with factors like diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and lifestyle choices.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a stroke?
A stroke (cerebrovascular accident) happens when there is a loss of blood flow to a section of the brain, which, in 87% of cases occurs due to blood clot (ischemic stroke) and in 13% of cases occurs due to bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke). When blood flow is lost, not enough oxygen and nutrients get to brain cells, which start to die in minutes. Strokes that are not caught and treated quickly can result in death, brain damage, and/or disability. Sometimes, stroke symptoms will resolve within minutes to hours of onset; this is known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA) and is a strong risk factor for stroke. [1]
What are the main signs and symptoms of a stroke?
Stroke symptoms can vary based on the individual and the affected brain area, but they typically begin suddenly in approximately 96% of cases. Common symptoms include dizziness, loss of balance, one-sided weakness or numbness, slurred speech, vision problems, headache, nausea, and uncoordinated movements.
Symptoms of stroke can vary from person to person and depend on the type of stroke and the area of the brain affected. One common similarity is that these symptoms start suddenly about 96% of the time.[2] Some common symptoms include:
- Dizziness
- Falling
- Loss of balance
- One-sided weakness or numbness in an arm, leg or the face
- Slurred speech and trouble speaking
- Trouble seeing clearly/double vision
- Headache
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Abnormal and uncoordinated movements
How is a stroke diagnosed?
A stroke is diagnosed by a healthcare provider through an assessment of signs and symptoms, medical history, and brain imaging scans like CT or MRI. The provider evaluates alertness, coordination, sensation, strength, and vision and may also conduct heart tests to check for blood clots and other issues.
A health care provider will diagnose a stroke based on signs and symptoms, medical history, and diagnostic scans to image the brain (CT or MRI scans). The provider checks a person’s alertness, coordination/balance, sensation and strength in certain body parts, and any difficulties seeing. Sometimes additional tests of the heart (electrocardiogram and/or an echocardiography) are done to search for blood clots and other problems.[1]
How is a stroke managed medically?
Stroke management involves 3 main categories: acute treatment during the stroke at the hospital, poststroke rehabilitation to address disabilities, and preventative treatments to reduce the risk of recurrence through medications and lifestyle changes. These approaches aim to mitigate the immediate effects of a stroke, support recovery, and promote long-term health.
Medical treatments of stroke can be split up into 3 categories.[1]
- Acute treatment is usually performed at the hospital to mitigate a stroke while it is happening; to learn more, see the CDC page for stroke treatments.
- Post-stroke rehabilitation, to reduce disabilities after the stroke has been stopped, can include physical therapy, speech therapy, psychotherapy, and more.
- Preventative treatments, to reduce stroke recurrence, includes various medications, and healthy lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, losing weight, and lowering blood pressure and lipid levels.
Have any supplements been studied for stroke recovery and prevention?
Certain dietary supplements have been studied for stroke recovery and prevention, and folic acid and B vitamin complex have shown potential in reducing stroke risk, particularly in regions that lack folic acid fortification. In contrast, multivitamins and nutrients like vitamin D, calcium, and vitamin C do not appear to prevent stroke, and the evidence for supplements like ginkgo and astragalus for recovery is inconclusive.
Certain dietary supplements have been studied for stroke recovery and prevention. Multivitamins and nutrients like vitamin D, calcium, and vitamin C do not seem to prevent stroke. However, folic acid and B vitamin complex do seem to reduce the risk of stroke, especially in geographic locations that lack folic acid food fortification.[3] Fewer supplements, such as ginkgo and astragalus, have been studied for stroke recovery and evidence is inconclusive at best.[4][5]
How could diet affect strokes?
A healthy diet can reduce the risk of both recurrent and first-time strokes, whereas an unhealthy diet increases that risk. Key components of a heart-healthy diet include low saturated fats, sodium, and sugar, along with high intake of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
A healthy diet plays a role in reducing the risk of a recurrent or first time stroke, while an unhealthy diet can increase the risk of stroke. Being overweight increases the risk of stroke. In general, a healthy diet is low in saturated fats, sodium, and sugar while being high in fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. Examples of heart healthy diets include the DASH diet, the Mediterranean diet, and certain vegetarian diets.[6]
What exactly should I eat to adhere to the DASH diet?
Quick answer:
The DASH diet emphasizes consuming vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy, fish, poultry, beans, nuts, and vegetable oils while limiting saturated fats, sweets, and sugar-sweetened beverages. A typical 2,000 kcal daily intake includes specific servings of these food groups along with sodium restrictions.
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the DASH diet recommends eating vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, including fat-free or low-fat dairy products, fish, poultry, beans, nuts, and vegetable oils; limiting foods that are high in saturated fat (e.g., fatty meats, full-fat dairy products, and tropical oils like coconut, palm kernel and palm oils); and limiting sweets and sugar-sweetened beverages. A 2,000 kcal daily diet would include 6-8 servings of grains, 6 or less servings of meat, poultry or fish, 4-5 servings of vegetables, 4-5 servings of fruit, 2-3 servings of low fat or fat-free dairy products, 2-3 servings of fats and oils, and either 2,300 milligrams of sodium or 1,500 milligrams of sodium, which is roughly half[7] of what the typical American consumes. In addition, the diet would include 4-5 weekly servings of nuts, beans, seeds, or peas and 5 or less servings of sweets.
What does the Mediterranean diet include?
Quick answer:
The Mediterranean diet primarily includes unprocessed foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, along with moderate amounts of fish, olive oil, and dairy, and small amounts of lean meat. Historically, this diet featured higher meat consumption, but current recommendations suggest less than 120 grams of meat per week.
A typical Mediterranean-style diet, as defined by the Fundación Dieta Mediterránea, primarily consists of unprocessed foods (fruits, vegetables, whole-grain products) and moderate amounts of fish, olive oil, and dairy products. Also, small amounts of lean meat are recommended. While the traditional Mediterranean diet of the 1960s included more than 200 grams of meat per day[8] in certain regions, study participants of the emblematic PREDIMED study[9] reported an average of 120 grams of meat per day, which is about 70% higher than the current U.S. intake (about 71 grams per day) and seven times the amount recommended by the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid[10] (less than 120 grams per week).
Are there any other treatments for stroke recovery and prevention?
Controlling high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol through behaviors such as regular exercise, stress reduction, and maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent stroke. These interventions are important for reducing stroke risk.
Behaviors and interventions that help to control high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol can also help prevent stroke. For example, regular exercise, stress reduction, and maintaining a healthy weight can help to reduce the risk of stroke.[1]
What causes a stroke?
A stroke can be caused by a blood clot (ischemic stroke) or a bleed (hemorrhagic stroke) in the brain. Various conditions can increase the risk of stroke over time, particularly uncontrolled high blood pressure, along with factors like diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and lifestyle choices.
A stroke is caused by either a blood clot (ischemic stroke) or a bleed (hemorrhagic stroke) inside the brain. Many conditions can increase the risk of stroke over time, especially if they are not properly treated. While the main condition that increases the risk for stroke is uncontrolled high blood pressure, conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and atrial fibrillation (irregular heart beat) also increase risk. Other risk factors for stroke include smoking, past history of stroke or transient ischemic attack, elderly age, African American race, substance use, unhealthy diet, and insufficient exercise.[1]
References
Examine Database References
- Oxidative Stress Biomarkers - Monika Lagowska-Lenard, Zbigniew Stelmasiak, Halina Bartosik-PsujekInfluence of vitamin C on markers of oxidative stress in the earliest period of ischemic strokePharmacol Rep.(Jul-Aug 2010)
- Cardiovascular Disease Mortality - Buring JEAspirin prevents stroke but not MI in women; vitamin E has no effect on CV disease or cancerCleve Clin J Med.(2006 Sep)
- Total cholesterol - Singh I, Turner AH, Sinclair AJ, Li D, Hawley JAEffects of gamma-tocopherol supplementation on thrombotic risk factorsAsia Pac J Clin Nutr.(2007)
- Stroke Risk - Zhang N, Zhou Z, Chi X, Fan F, Li S, Song Y, Zhang Y, Qin X, Sun N, Wang X, Huo Y, Li JFolic acid supplementation for stroke prevention: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 21 randomized clinical trials worldwide.Clin Nutr.(2024 Jul)
- Stroke Recovery - Koval'chuk VV, Skoromets AA, Koval'chuk IV, Stoianova EG, Vysotskaia ML, Melikhova EV, Il'iaĭnen EV[Efficacy of phenotropil in the rehabilitation of stroke patients]Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova.(2010)
- Stroke Recovery - Huijts M, van Oostenbrugge RJ, Rouhl RP, Menheere P, Duits AEffects of vitamin B12 supplementation on cognition, depression, and fatigue in patients with lacunar strokeInt Psychogeriatr.(2013 Mar)
- Stroke Recovery - Chen CC, Lee HC, Chang JH, Chen SS, Li TC, Tsai CH, Cho DY, Hsieh CLChinese Herb Astragalus membranaceus Enhances Recovery of Hemorrhagic Stroke: Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized StudyEvid Based Complement Alternat Med.(2012)
- Stroke Recovery - Robinson RG, Jorge RE, Clarence-Smith K, Starkstein SDouble-blind treatment of apathy in patients with poststroke depression using nefiracetamJ Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci.(2009 Spring)
- Stroke Recovery - Güngör L, Terzi M, Onar MKDoes long term use of piracetam improve speech disturbances due to ischemic cerebrovascular diseasesBrain Lang.(2011 Apr)
- Stroke Recovery - Zeng X, Liu M, Yang Y, Li Y, Asplund KGinkgo biloba for acute ischaemic strokeCochrane Database Syst Rev.(2005 Oct 19)
- Stroke Recovery - Aquilani R, Baiardi P, Scocchi M, Iadarola P, Verri M, Sessarego P, Boschi F, Pasini E, Pastoris O, Viglio SNormalization of zinc intake enhances neurological retrieval of patients suffering from ischemic strokesNutr Neurosci.(2009 Oct)
- Total cholesterol - Maryam Akbari, Omid Reza Tamtaji, Kamran B Lankarani, Reza Tabrizi, Ehsan Dadgostar, Neda Haghighat, Fariba Kolahdooz, Amir Ghaderi, Mohammad Ali Mansournia, Zatollah AsemiThe effects of resveratrol on lipid profiles and liver enzymes in patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsLipids Health Dis.(2020 Feb 17)
- Total cholesterol - Poppitt SD, Howe CA, Lithander FE, Silvers KM, Lin RB, Croft J, Ratnasabapathy Y, Gibson RA, Anderson CSEffects of moderate-dose omega-3 fish oil on cardiovascular risk factors and mood after ischemic stroke: a randomized, controlled trialStroke.(2009 Nov)
- Total cholesterol - Mostafa Asadollahi, Parisa Nikdokht, Boshra Hatef, Seyed Shahabeddin Sadr, Hedayat Sahraei, Farhad Assarzadegan, Gila Pirzad JahromiProtective properties of the aqueous extract of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in ischemic stroke, randomized clinical trialJ Ethnopharmacol.(2019 Jun 28)