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.
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
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