Stroke
A stroke, or cerebrovascular accident, occurs when the blood supply of an area of brain cells is cut off for a long period of time, resulting in the death of the deprived cells due to lack of oxygen and nutrients essential for the proper function of the brain. The blood vessels may be blocked by atherosclerosis, clotting, or hemorrhaging. The process is similar to that of a heart attach, the difference being cell death in the brain during a stroke.
Typical symptoms include impaired memory and attention span, tingling or lack of feeling in limbs, a feeling of heaviness in the limbs, and loss of movement. Symptoms are often restricted to one side of the body, as seen in the frequent right or left-sided paralysis. Strokes may be so small that they are not even noticed or so sever as to be fatal. It is difficult to tell the extent of injury or cell death at the time the stroke occurs, and the long-term outlook therefore depends upon the area and extent of the brain damage. Physical and speech therapy are often helpful in rehabilitating the patient.
Predisposing factors are prolonged high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, diabetes, old age, obesity and cigarette smoking. Preventive dietary measure include restricting sodium intake to reduce high blood pressure and reducing cholesterol intake to prevent further cholesterol buildup in blood vessels.
The diet should be well balanced, with special emphasis on B vitamins and vitamin C because they are needed for general health of the blood vessels. Vitamin E can be of help to prevent clots, reducing the need for oxygen. Reduction of overweight by sensible dieting is of the utmost importance. Whole grains, fruits, vegetables and complete proteins should be emphasized. All nutrients should meet the demands of stress and should lower blood cholesterol
Information obtained from The Nutrition Almanac, Third Edition, Lavon J. Dunne
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