Stroke is Preventable and Curable

By Dr. Kapil Singhal in Neurosciences Neurology

Oct 30, 2017

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