One in six people will experience a stroke in their lifetime.

Of these, one in three is under the age of 65.

Each year, around 20,000 men and women in Israel experience a stroke. For every stroke, five people have a mini-stroke (transient ischemic attack or TIA). This makes for a total of 100,000 people a year who experience a stroke.

Only some of these reach the hospital in time to receive treatment that can reduce brain damage and save their life.

Unfortunately, many are left with severe disability that fundamentally changes their daily lives and those of their family members.

We can and must change these numbers!

90% of strokes are preventable.

Quick treatment is crucial: Until the stroke is treated and blood flow to the brain is restored, two million neurons die every minute.

We can and must fight stroke, both through prevention and careful management of risk factors and by reducing the damage caused by stroke by raising awareness about symptoms and the importance of quickly calling an ambulance and going to the hospital for treatment.

To understand the significance of stroke, we must first understand a bit about the brain’s structure and function.

The Three Main Parts of the Brain

• The cerebrum is made up of two halves (cerebral hemispheres), familiar to us from pictures of the human brain. Each part of the cerebrum controls a different function. The left side of the brain (when the right side is dominant) controls the centers of speech and language, logical analysis and intellectual functions. The right side of the brain controls emotional responses, creativity, imagination, musical aptitude, information analysis, understanding and spatial perception.

The cerebellum contains the centers largely responsible for coordination and movement. This part also controls fine motor skills, balance and situational awareness.

• The brainstem is made up of three parts: the midbrain, the pons and the medulla. The brainstem contains the centers responsible for regulating blood pressure, cardiac function, respiratory function, body temperature and state of consciousness. It contains sensory and motor pathways and serves as the center of visual and aural reflexes.
• It is customary to divide the brain into areas according to function, e.g., the area associated with orientation and controlling the movement of the head and eyes; the area responsible for mental functions and more. Blood reaches the brain via a system of arteries that supply different areas of the brain. Without blood flow, the brain cannot function fully.

What Happens During a Stroke

As stated, our brain needs a constant supply of blood to function properly. A stroke occurs when there is a sudden interruption in the supply of blood and oxygen to part of the brain tissue and nerve cells. During the stroke and as a result of it, this tissue is damaged and the brain’s function is impaired. As soon as nerve cells are damaged, it sets off a “chain reaction” that causes the cells to die, and the cells surrounding the damaged area may also be damaged.

A short, mild stroke is called a “mini-stroke” or transient ischemic attack (TIA), and lasts only a few minutes. The symptoms of a TIA are identical to those of a regular stroke; but unlike stroke symptoms, they are reversible and the related neurological phenomena pass within a short time. Between 10% and 15% of those who experience such a stroke are expected to have an acute stroke within 90 days. The first days after the mini-stroke are the highest-risk, so it is crucial to quickly go to the hospital for suitable examination and treatment. Since it is impossible to distinguish between a mini-stroke and an acute stroke without comprehensive testing, it is important to call an ambulance and go to the hospital whenever symptoms appear.

It should be noted that the severity of the stroke is largely determined by:

• The location of the damage to the brain.
• The extent of the damage (the size of the damaged area of the brain).
• The efficiency with which the body is able to repair the system of blood supply to the brain.
• The speed with which other areas of the brain can take over the function of the damaged cells.
• Recognizing the early signs of stroke.
• The quality and speed of the medical treatment given to the patient.
• We can and must fight stroke: to reduce its damage; to improve the quality of life for stroke patients and their families, who bear the burden of intensive and complex care; and to prevent the next stroke.