"Stroke" is the third leading cause of death after heart disease. Although advanced treatments can save lives, they often leave behind serious complications such as hemiplegia and speech disorders, making it indeed a dreadful disease.
One type of stroke, "subarachnoid hemorrhage," is mostly caused by aneurysms in arteries that rupture, resulting in bleeding on the surface of the brain. Subarachnoid hemorrhage has no direct relation to obesity and can occur in young people. However, obesity is a major factor in causing hypertension, which increases the likelihood of blood vessel rupture, so there is still some causal relationship between the two.
The three other forms of stroke are closely related to obesity.
The main cause of "intracerebral hemorrhage" is hypertension induced by obesity. Persistent high blood pressure weakens the blood vessels over time due to constant exposure to high pressure. When these weakened vessels are subjected to even higher blood pressure, they may rupture, affecting brain function.
"Cerebral thrombosis" occurs when a blood clot attaches to the narrowed lumen of a vessel due to arteriosclerosis, causing a stoppage in blood circulation.
"Cerebral embolism" happens when clots formed in the coronary arteries, carotid arteries, or vertebral arteries travel with the bloodstream into the brain's vessels, blocking smaller cerebral arteries.
In short, blood clots obstruct the brain's blood vessels, preventing the delivery of blood. This leads to oxygen deprivation in brain cells, causing shock and eventual cell death.
Although strokes are often considered sudden events, they usually have warning signs. When our bodies form blood clots, they naturally attempt to dissolve them, temporarily relieving blockages. At this point, symptoms like dizziness, mild numbness in hands and feet, and slurred speech may appear. However, because these symptoms are relatively mild, they are often overlooked.
People who are prone to arteriosclerosis due to obesity and hypertension should pay particular attention to these warning signs.