The pandemic has changed people’s personal and professional lives and the way they view healthcare, especially the emergency medical system. Unlike in the past, households have become accustomed to major medical devices such as digital thermometers, blood pressure monitors, pulse oximeters and blood glucose test kits. This clinical preparation is essential to reduce morbidity and mortality in emergency medical conditions such as stroke.
In honor of World Stroke Day on October 29, we are raising awareness about causes, risk factors and warning signs so you can tap into the instinct of clinical readiness and get treatment right away. increase. Being stroke-prepared means knowing when and where to seek help without wasting a single minute.
What is stroke?
A stroke, also called a stroke, occurs when the blood supply to the brain is cut off or ruptured. Brain cells deprived of oxygen-rich blood and nutrients die at a rate of about 4 million neurons per minute. This brain cell death also shuts down all associated bodily functions, causing impairments in speech, memory, lateral thinking, cognitive function, and limb movement. Most of the time it leads to paralysis and even death.
Stroke is either ischemic or hemorrhagic. A stroke caused by a blockage in a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain is called an ischemic stroke. A blood clot, or a blood clot that travels through a blood vessel to the brain, can cause an ischemic stroke. A hemorrhagic stroke, on the other hand, occurs when a blood vessel leading to the brain ruptures. It is further classified as intracerebral — hemorrhages in blood vessels within the brain or subarachnoid — between the brain and the membranes that cover it.
understand the signs
Understanding the risk factors and signs of stroke can go a long way in improving patient outcomes after treatment and in preventing impairment of speech, limb movement, or cognitive function. In a stroke, “time is the brain” because brain cell loss increases every minute, so it is of utmost importance that he arrives at a stroke hospital within 60 minutes of the onset of symptoms. However, the lack of awareness often causes patients to arrive at hospitals outside the “golden hour” hours, resulting in permanent loss of vital bodily functions despite optimal treatment.
The most common symptoms of stroke are:
Weakness or numbness in limbs or other body parts
・Confusion
・ Slurred speech, drooping face
-Difficulty walking or running to maintain balance
·dizzy
Risk factor
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the chance of stroke increases with age. Especially after he turns 55, his risk of stroke nearly doubles every 10 years. However, in recent years, there has also been a significant increase in stroke among people under the age of 60. In fact, a recent study found that nearly 14% of all strokes occur in people between the ages of 15 and 49. Obesity, hypertension, juvenile and adolescent diabetes, and an overall increase in stress levels due to a career-oriented urban lifestyle have proven to be major risk factors for stroke in the young population. In most cases, the risk factors for stroke do not change. Some common risk factors are:
・High blood pressure
· Regularly smoke or chew tobacco.exposure to secondhand smoke
· Heart disease
· Diabetes
・excess weight
Aging (especially after age 55)
Luckily, most risk factors are preventable, so a small lifestyle change can prevent stroke altogether. Most importantly, managing obesity is essential for a healthy BMI, physical function, and helps prevent possible bleeding by reducing elevated blood pressure levels. Saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, and fiber Avoiding high-content foods can help maintain cholesterol levels and reduce the chances of plaque forming in your blood vessels. You can supplement with vitamins. Most importantly, exercise regularly and avoid sedentary lifestyles such as smoking, drinking, lack of sleep, and stressful environments.
Finally, it is essential to be aware of specialty stroke hospitals located 10-15 km away from your residence. Choose a hospital with specially designated units that are committed to providing state-of-the-art emergency care for stroke cases to preserve brain cells, save lives, and speed recovery.
