Did you know around 15 million people from around the globe get a stroke? WHO (World Health Organization) says stroke is a medical emergency because out of these 15 million, 5 million die, and 5 million people are left with permanent disability. Therefore, everyone should be aware of the warning signs of a stroke.
In this blog, we will discuss this medical event, the symptoms of a stroke, its causes, risk factors, further complications, and preventive measures. Understanding the basics can make you capable of identifying the symptoms and eventually, you can save a life in need.
What Is A Stroke?
A stroke is a life-threatening medical event that happens when there is not enough blood flow in any part of the brain. The blood flow can stop because of any blockage or rupture of the blood vessels in the brain.
Types Of Stroke And Its Causes
The two main types of stroke are ischemic stroke and other is hemorrhagic stroke. For these strokes, there are two main causes of stroke.
Ischemic Stroke
Ischemic stroke occurs due to a blockage in the brain artery. American Stroke Association says that 87% of all strokes are ischemic.
The blockage in the brain is usually due to a plaque or a blood clot. The plaque can settle in any vessel that travels in the bloodstream. They block the oxygen and nutrient supply to the brain tissue and brain cells start to die in a minute.
Hemorrhagic Stroke
Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures. The blood increases the pressure and damages the brain cells which leads to a stroke. American Stroke Association says that 13% of all strokes are hemorrhagic.
Brain hemorrhage or bleeding inside the brain can happen due to the following reasons:
- The most common cause is a head trauma. Injury to the head in any accident can lead to bleeding inside the brain.
- Untreated high blood pressure can also rupture the weak blood vessels in the brain.
- Amyloid angiopathy, a condition when protein starts to deposit in the walls of blood vessels. This can also lead to hemorrhagic stroke.
- Medications like anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs can increase the risk of bleeding.
- When a blood vessel is blocked and it bursts, it leads to a stroke. This condition is known as aneurysm.
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
A transient ischemic attack shows symptoms similar to strokes for a temporary time and it does not cause any permanent damage. A transient ischemic attack occurs due to a temporary decrease in blood supply to the brain. It is known as a mini stroke as it occurs for not more than 5 minutes.
The blood flow is reduced due to blood clots or fatty deposits in the nervous system. If anyone experiences a transient ischemic attack that means they have a partially blocked artery.
5 Warning Signs Of A Stroke
The signs and symptoms of a stroke can be different for every other person. It is very important to understand the warning signs of stroke, to get the right medical help in time. Strokes occur suddenly and lead to deadly consequences when not treated immediately.
These are the warning signs and symptoms of stroke that one should be aware of:
1. Balance
When someone has a stroke, the person will suddenly lose balance and coordination, and they can also feel dizzy and unsteady. Ask the person to walk in a straight line or perform a simple coordination test to see if they are struggling to balance their body.
2. Eyes
The person having a stroke can have issues with vision in one or both eyes. They can have blurred vision, double vision, or complete loss of vision.
Ask the person if they can see clearly or are experiencing any visual disturbance.
3. Face Dropping
When someone gets a stroke, one side of their face drop or becomes numb. When the person smiles then their smile can appear uneven or lopsided.
In that case, ask the person to smile. Does one side of their face drop? If yes, immediately call the emergency services.
4. Arm Weakness
A person having a stroke will have weakness or numbness in the arm or leg. When a person tries to raise their arms, one arm can drift downwards because of weakness or numbness.
So, ask the person to raise both arms and check does one arm drifts downward or if they struggle to lift the arm.
5. Speech Difficulty
The person having a stroke can have trouble speaking or understanding speech. When they speak it can be difficult to understand or they may not be able to speak.
Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence like, ‘The sky is blue’ and listen if they can speak properly or not.
Time to call emergency services:
If any of these above signs are present in you or someone else, then act fast and call the national emergency services in India at 112. Note the time when the symptoms were first visible to inform the medical personnel.
Other Brain Stroke Symptoms
Apart from the above signs, there are other symptoms of a stroke that everyone should know. The symptoms of a brain stroke are as follows:
- Sudden numbness or weakness especially on one side of the body
- Severe headache
- Difficulty swallowing
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid heartbeat
Risk Factors
There are several risk factors that can lead to stroke. Let’s understand it broadly under controllable risk factors which one can control and uncontrollable risk factors, which are beyond one’s control.
Controllable Risk Factors
These are risk factors that one can control by adopting healthy lifestyle options.
1. High Blood Pressure
Consistently high blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke. Therefore it is important to regularly monitor your blood pressure and keep it in control.
Exercise regularly, manage your stress, and reduce the intake of salt in your DASH diet for hypertension to manage your high blood pressure.
2. Diabetes
High blood sugar can damage blood vessels over time. So, try to maintain normal sugar levels through your diet, exercise, and medication if you are prescribed.
3. High Cholesterol
High levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol can develop plaque in arteries, which increases the risk of stroke. Therefore, it becomes important to manage cholesterol levels through diet, exercise, and medication.
4. Obesity
Excess body weight can increase the risk of stroke through its impact on blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol levels. So, maintain a healthy weight through diet and exercise to reduce the chances of this life-threatening event.
If you need help with weight loss you can connect with us. Our team will be happy to help you and be a part of your weight loss journey.
5. Alcohol And Drug Use
Excess intake of alcohol and drugs can increase blood pressure and it can lead to a stroke. So, it is good to avoid drugs and limit the intake of alcohol.
6. Smoking
What does smoking do to your body? The harmful smoke damages the blood vessels and increases blood pressure. And we know that high blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke.
Therefore, it is best to quit things that can lead to death.
Uncontrollable Risk Factors
These risk factors are beyond one control, but still one should be careful when one finds oneself in this category.
1. Age
The chances of stroke increase with age, particularly after the age of 55. So, one must be aware of the signs of a stroke to act fast in the required situation.
2. Gender
In the young age, men have a higher risk of stroke but in old age the chance of stroke increases in women. So, both men and women should be aware of the risk and know how to identify the signs of a stroke.
3. Family History
A family history of cardiovascular disease and stroke increases the chance of getting a stroke. So, one should be aware of their family history to effectively manage stroke on time.
4. Previous Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
Someone who had a stroke or TIA (a mini-stroke) is at higher risk of having a stroke in the future. So, they should have regular follow-ups with their doctor and adhere to strict management of the risk factors.
5. Race And Ethnicity
African Americans and Hispanic people have a higher risk of stroke than any other race or ethnicity. In this case, community health programs and individual risk management can help to reduce the risk.
Complications With A Stroke
After a stroke when people are in their recovery stage, there are several complications which are immediate and long-term. The nature and severity of a stroke depend on the type of stroke and the extent of damage to your brain.
Immediate complications can be cerebral edema (swelling of the brain) and an increased chance of getting another stroke. Cerebral edema after the stroke increases the pressure inside your brain and leads to further damage.
Long-term complications include:
- Weakness or paralysis especially on one side of the body.
- Damage to the areas responsible for language can lead to trouble speaking or understanding speech, reading, and writing.
- Damage in cognitive function, including memory, attention, and problem-solving.
- Depression, anxiety, mood swings, and irritability are common after a stroke.
- Some survivors experience pain, numbness, or other unusual sensations in one side of the body.
- Because of muscle weakness, people can have difficulty swallowing. It can also impair the ability to control bladder and bowel movements.
Preventive Measures
Can we prevent stroke? The preventive measures for stroke are the ones that can help to manage the controllable risk factors.
1. Control High Blood Pressure
This is the best preventive way to reduce the chance of stroke. If you have had a stroke in the past hen reducing your blood pressure can help you prevent further risk of TIA.
Moreover, adopting a healthy lifestyle such as reducing salt in your diet, regular exercise, and yoga can help you manage your hypertension.
2. Manage Diabetes
High blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels over time. A healthy diet, exercise, and weight loss can definitely help you lower your blood sugar levels.
3. Maintain Healthy Cholesterol Levels
How to reduce cholesterol? Plan your diet with less cholesterol and fat, especially saturated and trans fat. This will help you reduce the buildup of plaque in the arteries. Along with diet incorporate regular exercise to lose cholesterol effectively.
4. Quit Smoking
Smoking increases the chances of getting a stroke for smokers and nonsmokers who get exposed to secondhand smoke. So, quit smoking for better health.
5. Limit Alcohol Consumption
Drinking large amounts of alcohol can increase the risk of high blood pressure. A moderate level of consumption i.e. one drink per day should be a good choice to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
6. Maintain A Healthy Weight
Obesity increases the chances of high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. So, if you are overweight then try losing weight through a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Eat a diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables. Additionally, try exercising for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise and or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise, along with strength training.
7. Manage Stress
How to manage stress in life? Stress can be a cause of several health issues, including stroke. Therefore practice stress-reducing techniques like mindfulness, meditation, deep breathing exercises, yoga, etc.
8. Don’t Take Drugs or Other Substances
It is important to avoid using drugs or other substances. Drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine are found to increase the risk factors of TIA or stroke. So, completely refrain from any kind of harmful substances.
Conclusion
In conclusion, stroke is a life-threatening event that needs immediate attention. Therefore, one should be able to recognize the signs of a stroke.
Quickly recognizing the signs of stroke can save someone’s life and also improve the chances of recovery. So, remember the acronym BEFAST: balance, eyes, face, arm or leg, speech, and time to call emergency services.
Along with these signs, there are other symptoms of brain stroke, such as weakness, headache, rapid heartbeat, etc. If you or someone you know experiences any of these signs then act fast and seek medical help immediately.
A stroke occurs because of a reduced supply of blood in the brain. The blood supply is reduced because of any blockage in the blood vessel caused by a blood clot or plaque.
A healthy lifestyle such as a balanced diet, regular exercise, and maintaining weight can reduce the risk of stroke. Therefore, adopt a healthy lifestyle and enjoy a healthy and fulfilling life.
Frequently Asked Question
What Does A Mini Stroke Look Like?
Mini stroke has signs and symptoms similar to a stroke but for a shorter duration. The signs such as weakness, numbness, confusion, speech difficulty, and vision problems will be in the patient.
Is Stroke Curable?
Stroke treatment and its recovery process include various therapies such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. The process is very gradual, so don’t lose hope.
What Is The First Aid For A Stroke?
The first aid for a stroke is immediately calling emergency services. Then make sure the patient is lying down with their head elevated and keep checking their breath.
What Are The Symptoms Of Silent Stroke?
The symptoms of silent stroke usually go unnoticed. The signs include minor memory issues, mood changes, and brief episodes of difficulty with coordination and balance.
Contact Us
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Disclaimer
This blog post will help you make healthier and better health choices. So be aware and take care. The most important thing to consider is your health before starting any specific diet or routine. Always seek advice from a doctor or dietitian if you have any concerns before starting.
Eat Healthy, Live Healthy. Enjoy a long, happy life.
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