This World Stroke Day the theme is how to get back into life after a stroke
Stroke is one of the most poorly understood conditions – often a stroke gets diagnosed as a different ailment and the patient’s condition is further complicated before appropriate treatment starts.
This World Stroke Day the theme is Up Again After Stroke – a process that doctors say continues for the rest of the life and not just for one year after the stroke, as is commonly believed.
Medibulletin explains:
What is stroke?
Stroke is a condition when the blood supply to an area of the brain is cut off, either because of an obstruction in the blood vessel or because of a ruptured blood vessel that may have led to a bleed in the brain. This causes a lack of oxygen supply to the brain and the affected cells die. Depending on which area of the brain loses blood supply and how long it takes for the area to start receiving oxygen again, stroke patients often have deficiencies in cognition, motor functions or speech that they have to contend with for life. That is where the theme of World Stroke Day 2018 comes in. The fact that a stroke patient may reach the doctor with such diverse symptoms, is the reason why stroke is misdiagnosed so frequently.
How common is stroke in India?
The incidence of stroke varies in different parts of India. According to a 2013 article in the Journal of Stroke, “Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability in India. The estimated adjusted prevalence rate of stroke range, 84-262/100,000 in rural and 334-424/100,000 in urban areas. The incidence rate is 119-145/100,000 based on the recent population based studies. There is also a wide variation in case fatality rates with the highest being 42% in Kolkata. Stroke units are predominantly available in urban areas that too in private hospitals.”
Government of India has included prevention of stroke as one of the aims of the contamination.
What are the symptoms of stroke?
Sudden change in gait, difficulty in speaking, paralysis, headache may indicate a stroke. A lot of stroke patients simply present as a sudden loss of consciousness. The Mayo Clinic lists these symptoms of stroke.
• Trouble with speaking and understanding. Patieny may experience confusion or words may slur. There may also be difficulty in understanding speech.
• Paralysis or numbness of the face, arm or leg. There may be sudden numbness, weakness or paralysis in the face, arm or leg. This often happens just on one side of the body. Trying to raise both arms over the head at the same time is a good test. If one arm begins to fall, it may be a symptom of stroke. Also, one side of the mouth may droop when the patient tries to smile.
• Trouble with seeing in one or both eyes. There may be sudden blurred or blackened vision in one or both eyes, or the patient may see double.
• Headache. A sudden, severe headache, which may be accompanied by vomiting, dizziness or altered consciousness, may indicate a stroke.
• Trouble with walking. Patient may stumble or experience sudden dizziness, loss of balance or loss of coordination.
What are the risk factors for stroke?
Smoking, obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, high alcohol intake are all risk factors for stroke. There is also a very significant genetic association so people with a family history of stroke should be especially careful. High blood pressure is a risk factor so early interventions to bring blood pressure under control go a long way in prevention of stroke. Use of drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine can precipitate an incident of stroke – it can happen even after a single use. Obstructive sleep apnea which is usually recognised by snoring, can also be a risk factor for stroke.
How can stroke be prevented?
The short answer to that question is by leading a healthy life. Smoking and excessive alcohol have to be avoided. However small amounts of alcohol may actually offer some protection against obstruction of blood vessels because of clot formation. Regular exercise is an important lifestyle element as is shedding weight. Exercise helps in weight loss, it also helps in bringing down blood pressure and cholesterol levels. A diet containing five or more daily servings of fruits or vegetables may reduce the risk of stroke. Following the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes olive oil, fruit, nuts, vegetables and whole grains, may be helpful.
