A Short Review: Genetic Risk Factors of Stroke

Abstract

A stroke happens when an artery in the brain gets blocked or ruptured, which results in the death of a brain tissue area because of a loss of its blood supply (brain infarction). Most strokes are ischemic strokes caused by ischemia due to arterial occlusion, but some are hemorrhagic strokes caused by an arterial rupture. Transient ischemic attacks have been considered similar to ischemic strokes. However, they cause no permanent damages to the brain, and their signs usually resolve during 1 h., which are sometimes called mini strokes. As for hemorrhagic strokes that cause a blood clot, that is, that deprives brain cells of blood supply, and therefore enough oxygen and glucose, the damage depends on the length of time the brain cells are deprived of blood, for example, If brain cells are deprived of the blood for only a short period of time, they can be slightly damaged, but if brain cells are deprived of blood for a longer period, the cells may die, and thus the patient loses some body functions, sometimes permanently. High blood pressure has been defined as the leading risk factor for strokes, and there are other factors like smoking, high blood cholesterol, obesity, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, and others. Strokes are more common among the elderly than younger adults because of the risks of injuries that result in causing strokes with age. Statistics have indicated that over 2/3 of the strokes happen in people who are older than 65, while the rates of strokes in men are very slightly higher than women, but more than 60% of stroke deaths occur in women, and this may be because women They have a stroke at a slightly higher (average) age than men. Black people have a higher possibility of getting a stroke than white people.