“Recognizing The Signs: Essential Stroke Awareness For Timely Intervention”

World Stroke Day, observed on October 29th each year, aims to raise awareness about stroke, a condition where blood flow to the brain is interrupted due to a ruptured or blocked blood vessel. The 2024 theme, #GreaterThan Stroke, focuses on educating the public about stroke symptoms, risk factors, and the importance of recognizing early signs. The day highlights the significance of prevention through healthy lifestyle choices, such as regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and routine medical check-ups. It also underscores the critical role of timely medical intervention in reducing the long-term effects of stroke, promoting the need for rapid response to improve outcomes.

World Stroke Day encourages everyone to take action to lower stroke risks and improve recovery rates.

UNDERSTANDING THE TYPES OF STROKE

The three main types of stroke are as follows:

Transient ischemic attack: A transient ischemic attack (TIA), or ministroke, is a brief, temporary disruption of blood flow to the brain, causing stroke-like symptoms without lasting damage.

Ischemic stroke: In India, the most common type of stroke is ischemic stroke, caused by blocked or narrowed brain blood vessels leading to reduced blood flow.

Hemorrhagic stroke: A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a ruptured blood vessel in the brain leads to internal bleeding, often caused by conditions affecting the blood vessels

STROKE SYMPTOMS

Stroke symptoms include trouble speaking, where the person may slur words, be confused, or have difficulty understanding others.

– Paralysis or weakness, often on one side of the body, can occur, making it hard to raise both arms.

– Vision problems, such as sudden blurred or blackened vision in one or both eyes, are also common.

– A severe headache, sometimes accompanied by dizziness, vomiting, or changes in consciousness, may signal a stroke.

– Difficulty walking, with a loss of balance or coordination, is another symptom. Immediate medical attention is crucial, as treatments are most effective soon after symptoms begin

STROKE RISK FACTORS AND PREVENTION

Almost 80% of strokes are preventable. In order to prevent stroke, the first step is to understand the risk factors of stroke. These risk factors can be divided into modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors:

Non-modifiable Risk Factors

1. Gender 2. Ethnicity 3. Age 4. Family history

Modifiable Risk Factors

1. Irregular Heartbeat 2. Use of Tobacco 3. Lack of physical activity4. Build-up of bad cholesterol5. Hypertension 6. Diabetes 7. Excessive alcohol consumption

People with a poor mental well-being are at a two times greater risk of mini strokes and strokes, particularly in adults who are middle-aged or older. Prolonged stress causes the body to release hormones that can lead to hardening of blood vessels and arteries, which is linked to stroke.

TREATMENTS FOR STROKE

Stroke is a medical emergency and it’s critical to get medical treatment right away. Getting emergency medical help reduces the risk of brain damage and other stroke complications.

REHABILITATION

Rehabilitation is a critical step in the stroke treatment process and helps improve function and regain independence over a short period of time. Rehabilitation for stroke is a full entity in itself. It is to be started as soon as the stroke starts and be continued till expected recovery is achieved. If rehabilitation is not done, the muscles get contracted and even after the recovery happens, the patient’s mobility will be compromised.

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