By Penelope A. Domogo, MD
cholesterol. “
Last week, we mentioned that the brain is sensitive to lack of oxygen thus we need to keep the blood flowing well there.
There are many conditions that can stop blood flow to the brain and cause prolonged lack of oxygen and nutrients in the brain, resulting in brain damage. Massive heart attack and stroke are perhaps the most common. These two have things in common. They are usual complications of high blood pressure and diabetes, meaning they are usual complications of sticky blood and narrowed blood vessels. Both mean that there’s a stoppage of the blood flow – in a massive heart attack, blood stops flowing to any part of the body because the heart stops pumping. Just like a total landslide in Halsema which totally stops vehicular traffic, in turn, stopping the flow of goods. In massive heart attack, the whole brain is affected, thus all body functions slow down or stop and if not restored in time can result in brain death or death. Mild heart attack is like a partial landslide where flow of traffic is just slowed down so usually there is no brain damage.
Strokes happen when the blood flow is cut off inside any part of the brain itself. Thus the consequence depends where the road block or road cut is in the brain. If in the right cerebrum, then the left side of the body is paralyzed or weakened. Sometimes, there is just weakness in one side of the body because there is still a little blood flowing through. And vice versa. If in the left cerebrum, then the right side of the body is affected. If the stroke happens in or extends to the brain stem, then this is life-threatening. As we mentioned last week that this is the breathing and heartbeat center.
Strokes happen in the form of road blocks like the landslide mentioned in the heart or it can be in the form of a road wash-out which happens in hemorrhagic stroke. The blood vessels in the brain seem to be more fragile than those in the rest of the body and this makes them more vulnerable to high blood pressure and diabetes. They burst more easily. And just like a road wash-out, when blood vessels burst, the spilled blood inflict additional damage on the affected brain tissue aside from the stoppage of oxygen and nutrient supply. Thus generally, a hemorrhagic stroke is more damaging than a stroke from a blood clot or narrowed blood vessel. Of course, the size of the blood vessel that ruptures and the amount of blood spilled also matter. And unlike liver cells which quickly regenerate when damaged, nerve and brain cells apparently take much longer time or may not even regenerate.
Strokes and heart attacks don’t just happen. Some brain trauma and brain tumors, though, can result in stroke-like manifestations. However, majority of strokes and heart attacks result from long-standing high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high blood cholesterol. As we mentioned earlier, these diseases result because of sticky blood and narrowed blood vessels. It is our decision to make our blood and blood vessels in prime condition. Such decision is a function of our brain itself and the wonder of it is that this is in our control. Brain power! Available in everyone. ***
“Come and see the works of God, how wonderful he is in all his doing toward all people.” Psalm 66:5
