Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease
What is Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease?
Stroke happens when blood flow to part of your brain stops or is reduced. This means brain cells do not get enough oxygen and nutrients. Within minutes, those cells begin to die. A stroke is a medical emergency that requires immediate care.
Cerebrovascular disease is the term for all conditions that affect blood vessels in the brain. These conditions include stroke, carotid artery disease, and narrowed or blocked blood vessels. Most cerebrovascular disease develops over time as plaque builds up inside blood vessels. This process is called atherosclerosis.
There are two main types of stroke. Ischemic stroke is caused by a blocked blood vessel and accounts for about 87% of all strokes. Hemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding in the brain. Both types can cause lasting brain damage or death. The good news is that many strokes can be prevented by managing risk factors early.
Symptoms
- Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance and coordination
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
- Drooping on one side of the face
- Slurred speech or inability to repeat a simple sentence
- Arm weakness or inability to raise both arms equally
Some people experience a transient ischemic attack or TIA before a major stroke. A TIA causes the same symptoms but lasts only a few minutes to hours. Many people with cerebrovascular disease have no symptoms until they experience a stroke or TIA. This is why preventive testing is so important.
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Causes and risk factors
Most strokes happen because of atherosclerosis, the buildup of fatty plaque in blood vessels. This plaque narrows arteries that supply blood to the brain. Over time, a piece of plaque can break off and travel to the brain. It blocks a smaller vessel and causes an ischemic stroke. High LDL cholesterol is a major contributor to plaque formation. Apolipoprotein B carries cholesterol particles into artery walls where plaque develops.
Risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, obesity, and physical inactivity. Inflammation in the body also plays a role. High sensitivity CRP is a marker of inflammation that can signal increased stroke risk. Other risk factors include age over 55, family history of stroke, previous stroke or TIA, atrial fibrillation, and excessive alcohol use. Many of these risk factors can be changed through lifestyle modifications and medical treatment.
How it's diagnosed
Stroke diagnosis in an emergency setting uses brain imaging such as CT scans or MRI. These tests show whether a stroke is ischemic or hemorrhagic. Doctors also use carotid ultrasound to check for narrowed arteries in the neck. Blood tests are not used to diagnose an active stroke but are essential for assessing stroke risk before it happens.
Preventive blood testing can identify key risk factors for cerebrovascular disease. Rite Aid tests for LDL cholesterol, LDL Medium particles, Apolipoprotein B, and high sensitivity CRP. These biomarkers show how much plaque-forming cholesterol is in your blood. They also measure inflammation levels that contribute to stroke risk. Testing these markers twice per year helps you track your risk and take action early. Catching elevated levels before a stroke occurs gives you time to make changes.
Treatment options
- Emergency treatment with clot-busting drugs or mechanical clot removal for ischemic stroke
- Surgery to stop bleeding or relieve pressure for hemorrhagic stroke
- Antiplatelet medications like aspirin or clopidogrel to prevent future clots
- Statins to lower LDL cholesterol and reduce plaque buildup
- Blood pressure medications to keep pressure below 140/90 or as directed
- Following a Mediterranean-style diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish, and olive oil
- Reducing saturated fat and trans fat intake to lower LDL cholesterol
- Getting at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week
- Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol to no more than 1 to 2 drinks per day
- Maintaining a healthy weight and managing diabetes if present
- Addressing sleep apnea if diagnosed
- Physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy after stroke
Concerned about Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease? Get tested at Rite Aid.
- Simple blood draw at your nearest lab
- Results in days, not weeks
- Share results with your doctor
Frequently asked questions
A TIA or transient ischemic attack is sometimes called a mini-stroke. It causes the same symptoms as a stroke but lasts only minutes to hours. Blood flow is temporarily blocked but then restored. A TIA causes no permanent brain damage but is a serious warning sign. About 1 in 3 people who have a TIA will later have a stroke.
Yes, blood tests can identify several key risk factors for stroke. Tests for LDL cholesterol, Apolipoprotein B, LDL particle size, and high sensitivity CRP show how much plaque-forming cholesterol is in your blood. They also measure inflammation levels that increase stroke risk. While these tests cannot predict exactly when or if you will have a stroke, they help you understand your risk level and take preventive action.
Use the FAST test to recognize stroke symptoms. F is for face drooping on one side. A is for arm weakness or inability to raise both arms. S is for speech difficulty or slurred words. T is for time to call 911 immediately. Other warning signs include sudden severe headache, sudden trouble seeing, and sudden loss of balance. Every minute matters during a stroke.
High LDL cholesterol contributes to atherosclerosis, the buildup of fatty plaque in arteries. This plaque can form in the carotid arteries in your neck or in blood vessels inside your brain. When plaque narrows these vessels, less blood reaches your brain. A piece of plaque can also break off and travel to block a smaller vessel. This blockage cuts off oxygen to brain cells and causes an ischemic stroke.
Yes, up to 80% of strokes can be prevented through lifestyle changes and managing risk factors. Eating a diet low in saturated fat, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking all reduce stroke risk. Controlling blood pressure and cholesterol through medication when needed is also critical. Regular blood testing helps you track whether your lifestyle changes are working.
Apolipoprotein B or Apo B is a protein that carries cholesterol particles into artery walls. Each LDL particle contains one Apo B molecule. High Apo B means you have more cholesterol particles that can form plaque in blood vessels. Apo B predicts stroke risk better than LDL cholesterol alone because it counts the actual number of harmful particles.
Testing every 6 months is ideal for tracking stroke risk factors. This frequency lets you see how lifestyle changes and medications affect your cholesterol and inflammation levels. If your numbers are high, more frequent testing helps you and your doctor adjust treatment quickly. Rite Aid's subscription includes 2 tests per year, which aligns with this recommendation.
High sensitivity CRP measures inflammation in your body. Chronic inflammation damages blood vessel walls and makes plaque more likely to break off and cause a stroke. People with elevated CRP have higher stroke risk even when cholesterol levels are normal. Lowering inflammation through diet, exercise, and medication when needed can reduce this risk.
Yes, LDL cholesterol particles come in different sizes. Medium and small LDL particles are more dangerous than large ones. They penetrate artery walls more easily and contribute to plaque buildup. Testing for LDL particle size, like LDL Medium, gives a more detailed picture of stroke risk than total LDL cholesterol alone.
Start by talking to your doctor about your results. They may recommend lifestyle changes like improving your diet, increasing exercise, and quitting smoking. Medications such as statins can lower LDL cholesterol and Apo B levels. Your doctor may also suggest blood pressure medication if needed. Retest in 3 to 6 months to see if your interventions are working.