Stroke of bad luck

Statistics says that almost 1.8 million people in India suffer from stroke every year and is the second most common cause of death after coronary artery diseases. Therefore, understanding it is the first step towards prevention, says SHAlINI SAKSENA

What is a strokeIJ

A stroke takes place when the blood supply to a part of the brain is cut off. Without blood, brain cells get damaged and die. The severity of stroke depends on which part of the brain is affected and how quickly the person is treated. A stroke can affect a person’s mobility, speech, ability to think, feel and analyse.

Types

Haemorrhagic Stroke: An artery may rupture and cause bleeding into the brain tissue , Also called a cerebral haemorrhage

schaemic Stroke:

Caused by atherosclerosis. An artery may become blocked by progressive thickening of its walls

schaemic Stroke:

Caused by embolism. A clot blocks an artery and prevents blood from getting into the parts of the brain.

patient care at home

Physiotherapy: This is an important part of the rehabilitation process. The main focus of is to move the legs and arms again and regain as much strength and movement as possible.

Behavioural treatment: It is important to ensure that a stroke patient is encouraged and supported. Making them a part of a support group is one way to enable them to handle their emotions. Enabling them communicate with people who have similar conditions is important and effective.

Medical documentation: Ensuring that the patients’ medical needs are taken care of in an effective manner is very important.

— Dr Rima Khanna

Golden Hour

It is imperative for a stroke patient to get to the hospital in the ‘Golden Period’ i.e. within first 4.5 hours of the stroke (the sooner the better). This is because clot busting medication will be effective if administered within 4.5 hours of stroke on set. For every minute in which the blood flow is not restored, nearly two million additional nerve cells die. Hence, it is important that patient should reach an equipped stroke centre as early as possible.

Risk

Factors Hypertension can increase the risk of stroke two fold. This is because it can narrow the blood vessels causing them to rupture or leak.

• Smoking is known to cause stroke as it leads to increased blood pressure which can cause the blood to clot.
• Diabetes doubles your risk of having a stroke and is a contributing factor for 20% of the strokes.
• low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (lDl) carries cholesterol (a fatty substance) through the blood which causes blockage. The build of plaque in the arteries makes it difficult for the blood to carry the oxygen to the brain.
• Obesity and overweight are the primary risk factors for stroke for men and woman of all races.
• One major factor which causes high blood pressure is stress. It causes the blood vessels to narrow and can increase chances of blood clots and heart attacks and stroke.

Difference between stroke and a heart attack

Stroke is due to impairment of blood circulation to brain manifesting in form of facial deviation or slurring of speech or weakness, numbness, incordination, imbalance of one side of body sometime sudden dizziness, vomiting, visual impairment may also be manifestation of stroke.

Heart attack, on the other hand, is due to impairment of blood circulation to heart muscles that manifesting itself where the person has chest pain, sweating, sinking feeling, low blood pressure and breathing difficulties.

Dr AK Sahani, senior consultant Neurosciences, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre,  New Delhi

Warning Signs

• Sudden confusion
• Sudden difficulty in speaking or understanding speech
• Sudden Weakness of one side of body
• Difficulty seeing with one or both eyes
• Dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Fainting or unconsciousness
• Change in sensation on one side of body

Dr Rima Khanna, Associate Consultant-Neurology

Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh

FACTFIlE

Every year normally 20-30% population is affected with stroke and this number usually goes up each year. Stroke is the life threatening condition and occur when blood supply to brain gets block. There two kinds of risk factor associated with stroke are-risk factor that we can control such as diabetes, high blood pressure, lifestyle, physical inactivity and High cholesterol. The other kind of risk factor are such that we can't control such as age, gender, genetic. Age is the major risk factor. Risk of stroke increases as age goes up. The best way to prevent stroke is maintain healthy lifestyle, eat healthy, avoid junk food and bakes products, exercise regularly, avoid alcohol and smoke.

Dr Rajnish Kumar Sr. Consultant & Unit Head, Neurology, Paras Hospital, Gurgaon

BE AWARE

The incidence of stroke is the same for men and women till the age of 50 years and after that the women are at higher chances of developing stroke.

Vegetarians are more prone to stroke because of deficiency of Vitamin B12 which causes increase in the level of homocysteine which accelerates process of atherosclerosis.

In a country like ours in addition to comprehensive Stroke programs with expertise, it is important to stress the importance of public awareness program to stress the fact that stroke is treatable and preventable in addition to access to remote areas of India to stress the importance of prevention and treatment of Stroke. Electronic and print media can be used more aggressively to promote the concept of healthy living and stroke prevention in this country.

Dr PN Renjen, senior consultant, Neurology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi