Strokes in Women

Strokes in adults are often caused by, or can be blamed on high blood pressure, high cholesterol, a history of smoking, too much alcohol and obesity. But as you can see this is not the case for children. There are other differences as well, including the related disabilities that may be a result of a stroke.

Stroke Related Disabilities
Because strokes often cause brain cells to be damaged, and this does not differ from child to adult, both children and adults who have strokes often have problems with:

speech and communication
paralysis or weakness on one side

However, there are some stroke-related disabilities that are unique to children. These disabilities are just as devastating as the above consequences, and including:

cerebral palsy
mental retardation
epilepsy

Other stroke complications for children include:

an ongoing fever
change of mental state, a once happy child may be moody and ornery
poor nutrition and conditions that result from prolonged bedrest, including bed sores, and lesions.

Even unborn babies can have strokes. Stroke is not conditional to being an adult, eating poorly, or smoking, etc. When a stroke occurs, it is because blood and oxygen do not flow to all parts of the brain, whether that is from a build up of plaque caused by poor diet or another factor it does not matter. For babies in the womb, strokes are caused by blood and oxygen not getting to all parts of the growing brain. Babies who have strokes in the womb or within the first month of life are at a high risk for cerebral palsy. While in the womb, a baby needs oxygen-rich blood so that its brain can develop and grow. Having a stroke is no fault of their own, but causes brain damage in the growing brain, this brain damage can cause cerebral palsy.

It is important to understand childhood and infant stroke, but you do not have to worry too much because strokes in children is rare. In fact, the incidence of stroke in children is relatively low (especially compared to adults), it is only about three cases in every 100,000 children per year.

The other factor that can help you rest a little easier is the fact that children heal better than adults do, so often times the recovery is faster and better. While the effects of strokes in children can be just as devastating, and hard to overcome mentally, children have a better ability to heal physically because of the greater plasticity or flexibility of the child's nervous system and brain. A child's brain is still developing, therefore it may have a greater ability to repair itself. With the help of physical and speech therapy, most childhood stroke survivors recover the use of their arms, legs and speech.

Just be sure that if your child exhibits the signs of stroke you act quickly to get them care, as the faster you act, the better results there will be. Childhood stroke symptoms are similar to those of adult stroke:

a severe headache -- often the first complaint
speech difficulties
eye movement problems
numbness
Children under 2 are at higher risk for stroke than any other children, and the problem is many cannot tell you in words what is wrong, so if you feel something is wrong, watch your child carefully, call your doctor, and remember, it is better safe than sorry.

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