Stroke is Preventable and Curable
Do You Know That Stroke Is
Preventable?
October 29th is
observed as World Stroke Day and this year the main focus of the day is on the
prevention of strokes. If we all take certain preventive measures to keep away
this disorder, then we have the power to decrease down the social and
economical cost of the stroke.
Hypertension,
diabetes, smoking and dyslipidemia are the major and common risk factors of
stroke, keeping them in control will help you to lead a healthy and stroke free
life.
Introduction:
Stroke is
being one of the leading causes of death and disability computing 1 in 10
deaths all across the world. Globally
6.5 million deaths occur due to stroke and nearly 17 million of stroke cases
get registered every year. With the recent data published by various sources it
has been observed that more than 80% of all the strokes happen in the
developing countries. In India, more than 1 million of stroke cases get
registered every year. It doesn’t do any favoritism as it can happen to anyone
at any age, and thus impact everyone being it survivors, family, friends, etc.
Stroke is a
neurological disorder which takes place when the supply of blood doesn’t
reaches to the brain in sufficient amount. Due to insufficient amount of blood
supply the cells of the brain gets damaged and dies. The impact and treatment
of stroke depends on the part of the brain which has been affected. The impact
of the stroke on its survivors can be disastrous to their body, mobility and
speech as well as their ability to think and feel.
TYPES OF STROKE:
Stroke has been divided into 2
categories:
Hemorrhagic Stroke: Bursting of brain aneurysm or leakage
in the blood vessel leads to hemorrhagic stroke. Due to spilling of blood into
the brain and the nearby areas it creates swelling and pressure further damages
the cells and tissues of the brain.
Hemorrhagic
strokes are not common but are responsible for about 40 percent of all the
stroke death taking place globally.
Ischemic Stroke: In this disorder the blood vessel
which carries the blood to the brain gets blocked by blood clot (ischemic),
disturbing the flow of blood. High blood pressure is one the major risk factor
for ischemic stroke.
Ischemic
stroke constitute of 84% of all strokes globally.
What are the sign and symptoms of
Stroke?
The list of
the sign and symptoms are as follows:
Trouble with
speaking and understanding
Paralysis or
numbness in leg, arms or even on face
Vision
problem
Regular headache
Problem in
maintaining balance especially while walking
F.A.S.T
It is an
acronym which is used to remember and identify the most common symptoms of
stroke and increases the responsiveness to stroke victim needs. If you
recognize these symptoms immediately dial Stroke Helpline / Emergency Number
for immediate treatment.
The
abbreviation F.A.S.T stands for:
F - FACE: If
you see a person’s one side face is drooping while smiling.
A - ARMS: If you see a person’s one arm is
drifting downwards while raising the arms.
S - SPEECH: if you see a person’s speech is
slurred and he’s facing difficulty in repeating a simple phrase.
T - TIME: if you encounter any of these signs
or symptoms then immediately dial Stroke Helpline / Emergency Number for
immediate medical help.
“Currently
multiple efficient diagnostic and treatment options are available, hence the
results are much promising. As time is brain, earliest the stroke is diagnosed
and treated, the better will be the results of the treatment”, says Dr. Sonia
Lal Gupta, Consultant – Neurology, Metro Hospitals and Heart Institute, Noida
Preventive measures for Stroke:
There are 10
major preventive measures that we have to take to keep ourselves healthy and
stroke free. As 90% of strokes are linked to these 10 avoidable risks:
Blood
pressure should be maintained
Regular
exercising is mandatory for 5 times a week
The diet
should be rich in fruits and vegetables with low amount of sodium in it
Cholesterol
level should be maintained
Healthy BMI
should be maintained
Smoking
should be avoided
Alcohol
intake should be limited
Identification
and treatment of atrial fibrillation is required
Diabetes
need to be controlled
Get educated about the stroke along with its
sign and symptoms.
“These days,
I have observed, many patients are completely ignoring their doctor’s advice because
of certain reason. This is not a good sign. The treatment plan for the stroke
should be religiously followed. I wish to advice every patient to complete
their course of treatment for better outcomes”, says Dr. Kapil Singhal, Senior
Consultant – Neurology, Metro Hospitals and Heart Institute, Noida
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