Basics about stroke that could help you save a life

A stroke ensues when a blood artery in the brain ruptures and bleeds or the blood supply to the brain is cut off. Blood and oxygen are unable to reach the brain’s tissues due to the rupture or obstruction.

Stroke is a prominent cause of preventable death, yet it is difficult to prevent due to a lack of awareness, education, and resources.

Ischemic, hemorrhagic, and transient ischemic attacks are the three forms of strokes (TIA). An ischemic stroke happens when a clot blocks a cerebral artery, whereas a hemorrhagic stroke happens when a cerebral artery ruptures. A transient blockage causes a TIA, or “mini-stroke.” Ischemic strokes account for 87 percent of all strokes.

Dr. Mohana Rao, one of the best neurosurgeon in Andhra Pradesh, explains a few key points to remember about stroke and how to cope with it.

  1. During a stroke, over 120 million brain cells die every hour. In comparison to the average cell loss rate in brain aging, the brain ages 3.6 years every hour if it is not treated. The sooner a patient seeks medical help, the better his or her prospects of recovery are.
  1. Approximately 66 percent of the time, someone other than the patient makes the decision to seek treatment. hence, understanding the warning signs and acute symptoms of stroke and receiving timely treatment could save a life.
  1. All the neurosurgeons in India agree that mini-strokes are signs that something is wrong. A minor stroke, also known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA), occurs when blood supply to the brain is temporarily blocked and serves as a warning that a severe stroke may follow. A TIA occurs in about one-third of stroke patients before they have a full-blown stroke. While TIAs can induce stroke-like symptoms such as numbness, tingling, or weakness on one side of the body, vision issues, difficulty speaking or understanding others, and headaches, they usually only last a few minutes.
  1. The abbreviation FAST is used to teach the most prevalent stroke warning signs and symptoms. Face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulties, and time to call are all abbreviated as FAST. Only around half of the people are aware of the warning indicators.
  1. Although stroke symptoms differ from person to person, the following are the most typical warning signs:
  • Weakness, dizziness, or confusion that occurs suddenly
  • An intense headache that appears out of nowhere
  • Numbness or paralysis of the face, arm, or leg on only one side of the body
  • Difficulty speaking or understanding what others are saying
  • Inability to see out of one or both eyes
  • Breathing or walking difficulties
  1. The best neurosurgeon in Andhra Pradesh, Dr. Mohana Rao, suggests that the quickest way to get treated during a stroke emergency is to arrive at the hospital in an ambulance. Driving to the hospital is a common blunder that can lead to lengthier wait times before a patient receives medical attention.
  1. Patients who have had an ischemic stroke may have a therapeutic window of six to 24 hours for mechanical clot removal in select patients with clots in big vessels.
  1. Having a stroke raises your chances of having another one (1 in 4 survivors have another stroke). Second strokes are more devastating than first strokes; thus, prevention is critical.
  1. The cause of some ischemic strokes is uncertain (cryptogenic stroke). When the etiology of the first stroke is unknown, preventing a second stroke is difficult. To determine the root reason, the patient should collaborate with their healthcare team.
  1. Stroke survivors who quit taking aspirin may raise their risk of recurrent stroke, presumably due to higher clotting levels caused by the absence of aspirin’s blood-thinning properties. In some stroke survivors, taking aspirin regularly can help them avoid a stroke.
  1. The brain is ready to learn for the first three months after a stroke. Neuroplasticity is the ability of our brains to adapt, and it plays an integral part in recovery.
  1. The most common preventable cause of stroke is high blood pressure. According to new standards, high blood pressure is now defined as a measurement of 130/80 mm Hg or greater. Any blood pressure value below 120/80 mm Hg and over 90/60 mm Hg is considered normal in an adult.
  1. Obesity, diabetes, cholesterol, smoking, and family history are among the other stroke risk factors.
  1. People who have had a heart attack owing to atherosclerosis or who have had coronary heart disease, angina, or who have had a heart attack owing to atherosclerosis are more than twice as likely to have a stroke as those who haven’t. If you have atherosclerosis in your coronary arteries, you’re more than likely to have it elsewhere in your body.
  1. As per the best neurosurgeon in Andhra Pradesh, eighty percent of strokes can be avoided. Healthy eating, physical activity, and risk factor management are all essential lifestyle modifications that can help prevent and treat it. Healthy eating habits can help you minimize three heart attack and stroke risk factors: high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, and excess body weight.

In Conclusion:

If you fear you’re having a stroke, you should seek emergency medical attention right once. Clot-busting medication can only be given in the hours following the onset of stroke symptoms. Early treatment is one of the most effective strategies to lower your chance of long-term problems and impairment.

Whether you’re seeking to prevent a first stroke or a second, prevention is achievable. Blood clots, which cause strokes, can be reduced with medication. Work with your doctor to develop a preventative approach that works for you, including medication intervention and changes in your lifestyle.

 

Also, Read This: How To Respond To A Heart Attack Patient And Do CPR For The Elderly?

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