Strokes and B vitamins, is there really any type of connection or is this just more hype?
Although there are still several in the medical community that will suggest that vitamins do not have any effect on preventing a stroke, there are perhaps just as many that is beginning taking the other side, especially with the B complex of vitamins.
There is a lot of evidence emerging that vitamins B-6, B-12, as well as folic acid may indeed help to prevent this life threatening situation.
In fully understanding the possible relevance between strokes and B vitamins, it is very helpful to understand exactly what they are, and the symptoms to watch for.
It also helps to know the different forms they come in.
The most important thing to understand about a stroke, regardless of the type, is the fact that it is a medical emergency and it should be taken very seriously.
A stroke occurs as the result of an interruption to one part of your brain of the blood supply, which immediately limits the brain tissue of both oxygen as well as food.
This is not a situation where this loss takes a long time to develop, as it can occur in just a matter of minutes in most cases.
If it is not treated as quickly as possible, it can not only severely damage your brain and several of your basic functions; it can also take your life.
However, there is some good news about this condition in that there are several treatments as well as several potential ways to prevent them, including these three vitamins.
There are several symptoms that can easily identify a stroke, but if you are the victim, you may not have the chance to react.
However, if you witness a stroke occurring in someone else, there are four very important steps you can take that can drastically minimize potential damages.
The first of these steps is the most obvious and that is to call 911 immediately as this may make the difference between long term damage and limited damage.
The next step is to begin mouth-to-mouth resuscitation if the affected person has stopped breathing. The third is to turn the victim on their side.
This will be critical as the chances are very high that vomiting may occur and if they are not on their side, it could cause them to choke to death.
The final step is to make absolutely sure that they eat or drink nothing at all.
Your first reaction may be to give them a glass of water, but if it is a stroke, this is the last thing you want to do as it may cause vomiting.
Strokes and B vitamins next critical step is to understand the symptoms that will occur immediately prior to this event.
All of these symptoms may occur, or you may only experience only one or two of them.
The first symptom will be a sudden difficulty in walking or standing as you may experience a very sudden dizziness.
This will quickly be followed by two other conditions; a loss of balance as well as coordination.
The next possible symptoms will involve speech, and will include a sudden difficulty is saying anything, and what you are trying to say will be slurred.
You may also know want to say, but you can no longer find the words in your memory.
You may also experience a very sudden numbness on one side of your face or body, or if the stroke is severe enough, you may be totally paralyzed on one side.
You may also have a very difficult time seeing or focusing in one or both of your eyes.
There is also one other symptom that occurs in almost every stroke; a severe headache.
However, this will be unlike any headache you have ever experienced, as it will literally feel like something very hard has hit your head.
Understanding strokes and B vitamins benefits also includes the different forms; Ischemic and hemorrhagic, and both of these also have different forms.
Both are also similar in that they will disrupt the flow of blood to your brain, but they are completely different as to what actually occurs.
An ischemic stroke is considered to be the most common form and it is the result of some type of a blockage that has occurred in one of your arteries.
A hemorrhagic stroke occurs as the result of one or more of your blood vessels leaking or actually bursting.
However, there is also one other type of a stroke referred to as a mini-stroke or a transient ischemic attack that temporarily blocks the supply of blood to your brain.
It is estimated that about 90 percent of all attacks are ischemic, and this is where a strokes and B-vitamins start to emerge.
An ischemic stroke occurs as there is lack of blood flow to your brain that is caused by the narrowing or blockage of an artery, and this type comes in two forms; thrombotic and embolic.
The thrombotic form is the result of a clot that has clogged your arteries which is generally the result of fatty deposits or plagues that have built up.
The embolic form may also involve a clot, or it may be the result of some other type of debris.
A hemorrhagic stroke is much less common and it also has two forms; an intracerebral hemorrhage or a sub-arachnoid hemorrhage.
Strokes and B vitamins are all centered on the B-complex of vitamins and include vitamins B-6, B-12, as well as folic acid.
It is believed that if you are in the risk groups of potential stroke victims, these vitamins in high dosages may stop them from occurring.
The high risk group includes someone with a family history of strokes, over the age of 55, as well as high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels.
Smoking, excess drinking, obesity, diabetes, as well as inactivity, also place you in the high risk group. B-vitamins help to lower your blood levels of a compound that is referred to as homocysteine.
Several studies have shown that if you have high levels of this compound in your blood, it increases the risk of heart disease.
Homocysteine is also believed to make your blood cells gooey or sticky, which can very easily lead to blood clots.
In the vast majority of cases, it is believed that homocysteine build up is the result of a deficiency of all three vitamins. As a result of this, strokes and B vitamins do seem to be connected.
Strokes and B vitamins may still be a controversial topic to many in the medical community.
However there is no dispute of what they can do in fighting and preventing homocysteine in your blood stream.
It only makes sense that if 90 percent of all strokes are caused by clots and if you eliminate the major cause of clots, you can beat this potential killer.