Health Information
Stroke
Stroke is divided into two types: one is ischemic stroke caused by blood vessel obstruction; the other is hemorrhagic stroke caused by bleeding. A hemorrhagic stroke may be caused by bleeding within the brain. It may be caused by intracerebral hemorrhage or hemorrhage in the periphery of the brain. Sometimes it may be caused by cerebral aneurysm or cerebral arteriovenous malformation. Whether it is ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, it will cause abnormal brain function. Symptoms of a stroke usually appear soon after it occurs, and if the symptoms disappear within 24 hours, it is sometimes called a transient ischemia or mini-stroke. People who have had a hemorrhagic stroke may experience sudden and severe headaches. Stroke may cause permanent sequelae.
Causes of stroke include advanced age, high blood pressure, a history of transient ischemic attack, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, smoking, atrial fibrillation, etc.
Some patients will have mild symptoms in the early stages of stroke, such as memory loss, decline in sensory abilities (hearing, vision, etc.), confusion, and abnormal behavior. Stroke patients who receive treatment as soon as possible can reduce the chance of permanent damage. MRI stroke assessment can accurately diagnose the location of a stroke and the extent of vascular obstruction, increasing the chances of recovery.
Liver Fibrosis
The liver is a major organ which performs many essential biological functions such as detoxification and synthesis of proteins and biochemicals necessary for digestion and growth.
Cirrhosis is due to damage caused by liver disease. Damage causes liver tissue to repair and subsequent formation of scar tissue. This will replace normal functioning tissue over time, leading to the impaired liver function of cirrhosis. Severe scarring of the liver can block the blood supply to liver and cause deranged liver function.
Researchers at CUHK conducted a large screening study detected fatty liver in 73% of the participants and severe liver fibrosis or cirrhosis in 18% of the participants. A longer history of diabetes, obesity, albuminuria, and abnormal cholesterol levels were all found to be associated with severe liver disease. For example, 95% of patients with a BMI >30 had fatty liver while 35% had severe liver fibrosis. Diabetic patients are recommended to screen for fatty liver and/or liver fibrosis in order to detect the disease at its early stage.