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According to the World Health Organization stroke is the second
leading cause of death worldwide. Stroke is also a leading cause of serious long-term disability. The number
of people with cerebrovascular disease is predicted to increase substantially in the coming years and the
majority of sufferers will be in the developing countries. Stroke accounts for about 10% of all deaths in
most developed countries. More than 30% of stroke victims die within 1 year of stroke onset.
During the 90 days after a transient ischaemic attack (TIA), 25% of patients experience a stroke, recurrent TIA,
cardiovascular event or death. Stroke survivors are more likely to suffer a further stroke than a myocardial infarction.
Based on direct costs alone stroke is among the most expensive illnesses in the USA.
The severity of stroke and the brain territory affected determine the type and severity of residual disablilities
which may include speech difficulty, loss of sensory function, bilateral loss of motor control, or hemiparesis.
Almost all strokes are caused either by haemorrhage from a blood vessel or by ischaemia due to blockage of a vessel
as a result of atheroslcerotic plaques or an embolus from another vessel. The distinction between haemorrhagic and
ischaemic strokes is critical in stroke diagnosis because both acute and preventative treatments often carry a risk
of haemorrhage, which would be detrimental in the setting of haemorrhagic stroke.
Various diagnostic methods are used after acute stroke, amongst which cranial computed tomography is the most important.
Magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound studies, electrocardiography and laboratory tests are also used for diagnosis in
order to determine the most appropriate treatments.
Differences between Stroke and Myocardial Infarction
Brain Attack
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Heart Attack
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- Pain is missing in most cases
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- Pain is prominent
- People respond more rapidly to pain
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- Symptoms are relatively stereotyped such as:
- Radiating chest pain
- Dyspnea
- Nausea
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- Public unaware of importance of symptoms
- Fear and anxiety may delay seeking medical attention
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- Public generally aware of importance of symptoms
- Fear and anxiety may delay seeking medical attention
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- Thinking may not be normal or person may not recognize he/she is having a stroke
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© 2005 Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Germany. All rights reserved.
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