About Us

OUR BACKGROUND

Stroke Foundation Uganda is a charity organization/Non-profit established in 2014 as a support group for stroke survivors and registered on 26th, April 2017. The organization and affiliated to Uganda Non-communicable Diseases and also a member to the Uganda alliance of patient’s organization The establishment of stroke foundation Uganda is to work with stroke survivors, caregivers, health professionals, government and public to reduce the impact of stroke on the Uganda community.

What is a stroke?

A stroke is an injury to the brain that may also severely affect the body. A stroke happens when blood supply to part of the brain is cut off or when there is bleeding into or around the brain. Your brain is a large, soft mass of tissue made up of billions of nerve cells. It is your body’s main control center and helps you to see, hear, taste, smell, talk, and walk. It is also the control center for thought, emotion, memory, judgment, and awareness. The brain’s nerve cells need a constant supply of oxygen and sugar (glucose), which are carried by the blood. When blood fails to get through to parts of the brain, the oxygen supply to those areas is cut off. This is called ischemia. Without oxygen, brain cells die. The longer the brain is without blood, the more severe the damage will be. The area of tissue death that results from ischemia is known as an infarction.

Blood flow to the brain can be blocked in two ways: A clump of blood called a blood clot blocks an artery in the brain or neck. A weakened artery bursts in the brain. Your brain cells control movement, so part of your body may become paralyzed after a stroke. If the right side of your brain is affected, the left side of your body may become paralyzed. If the left side of your brain is affected, the right side of your body may become paralyzed. The effects of a stroke may be mild or severe, short-term or permanent. Some people have strokes and recover completely within a few days, while others may never recover. How severe a stroke is depends on What part of your brain is affected How much brain cell damage there is How quickly your body can restore blood to the injured parts of your brain How quickly the healthy parts of your brain can take over for the injured area

What causes a stroke?

A blood clot or a blocked artery leading to the brain causes about 87% of all strokes. This type of stroke is called an ischemic stroke. There are 2 kinds of ischemic stroke: cerebral thrombosis and cerebral embolism. The other 13% of strokes are caused by ruptured or leaky blood vessels in or around the brain. This type of stroke is called a hemorrhagic stroke. There are 2 kinds of hemorrhagic strokes: cerebral and subarachnoid. Hemorrhagic strokes cause more deaths than ischemic strokes, but those who survive a hemorrhagic stroke recover more fully and have fewer long-lasting disabilities.