According to the World Stroke Organization (WSO), more than 1.22 million people worldwide suffer a first-time stroke every year. About 65 lakh people die of them every year. More than 10 million people worldwide suffer a stroke at some point in their lives. Its risk increases with age. According to the WHO, the risk has now increased so much that after the age of 25, 1 in every 4 people is likely to suffer a stroke at some point in their life.
According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, stroke is the second leading cause of death in India after coronary heart disease. One death due to stroke is reported every four minutes in the country. Approximately 1 lakh 85 thousand cases of stroke occur every year. This means that every 40 seconds a person suffers a stroke in the country.
Global Burden of Disease (GBD) figures are very alarming for India. According to the GBD, stroke cases in India have increased by 51% in the 30 years since 1990.
That is why today in 'Health Water' we will talk about stroke. You will also know that-
- Why is stroke an emergency condition?
- What to do immediately if someone has a stroke?
- How can be saved?
Brain What is a stroke? A brain stroke is when the blood flow to the brain cells is stopped due to rupture or blockage of the arteries in our brain. Due to which the supply of oxygen to the brain stops and the brain cells start dying. Its symptoms appear very quickly and without any warning.
According to neurologist Dr. Balbir Singh Sodhi, the sooner the symptoms of stroke are recognized, the sooner and in the right direction the patient can receive treatment. It also makes saving the patient easier. If the patient reaches the hospital within 4 and a half hours of the stroke, blood flow can be restarted in the blocked arteries. This treatment is called thrombolysis. So, take action as soon as possible and take the patient to the hospital immediately.
What is the way to recognize a stroke? If a person has suffered a stroke, the initial symptoms appear on the face and the organs around the face. This can lead to numbness of one part of the face and loss of control over that part. Confusion and difficulty speaking may occur. You may feel that your tongue is not under your control. Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes. Many times a person feels dizzy and has difficulty walking.
The American Stroke Association has created a quick trick to identify this. See graphic:
New guidelines from the American Stroke Association can prevent strokes In view of the rapidly increasing cases of stroke each year, the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Stroke Association (ASA) have issued updated guidelines. It explains how the risk of stroke can be reduced through preventive measures and lifestyle changes.
It states that screening is the best way to prevent any deadly disease. Blood pressure, cholesterol level, blood sugar level and obesity should be checked periodically to prevent stroke. By keeping this under control, the potential risk of stroke can be avoided. Apart from this, see what other tips are given in the graphic:
Choose healthy foods and drinks If you want to avoid stroke then you should eat a heart friendly healthy diet. It keeps blood pressure, cholesterol level, diabetes and weight under control. Try to include as many vegetables, fruits and legumes in your diet as possible. Lemon water and coconut water can be good options in drinks.
Keep weight under control Obesity is the biggest risk factor for heart attack and stroke. So keep the weight under control. For this, take a healthy and balanced diet. Do physical activities and get 7 hours of quality sleep every day.
Do regular physical activity Lack of physical activity is also one of the biggest risk factors for stroke. Do at least 45 minutes of light exercise every day. This improves both cardiovascular health and brain health. Stress levels also decrease.
Do not consume alcohol and cigarettes Smoking multiplies the risk of stroke. Drinking too much alcohol can cause our blood pressure to rise rapidly. If a person smokes cigarettes with alcohol, the risk of stroke increases manifold.
Manage medical conditions If you have any heart disease, talk to your doctor and get it under control. Any type of cardiovascular disease can be a major risk factor for stroke. It is better to control it beforehand.
Keep your cholesterol levels checked High cholesterol is a major risk factor for stroke. If the cholesterol level is already high and stress increases with it, the risk of stroke also increases. So, get your cholesterol levels checked periodically. Get a full body checkup once a year.
Keep blood pressure under control High blood pressure is the main cause of heart attack. If left untreated, the risk of stroke can double or sometimes even quadruple. If blood pressure is high, it is very important to monitor and treat it.
Keep diabetes under control The risk of stroke increases if a person is suffering from diabetes. For this, it is necessary to check the blood sugar level regularly. To control it, doctors may advise you to take some medicines. Apart from this, make necessary changes in lifestyle and diet. Make sure to get 7 hours of sleep regularly.
Take your medicines on time If you are being treated for any lifestyle disease, heart disease or any other medical condition, keep taking medicines regularly. This will keep the disease under control and also reduce the risk of stroke.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
