Stroke – the most important information 16th September 2024 – Tags: diseases, prevention, stroke, symptoms of a stroke
As we age, the risk of developing many diseases increases. In addition to changes in the body caused by the number of years we have lived, we also experience those caused by our life decisions and habits. One of the diseases that can unfortunately appear in our lives is stroke. In previous articles, we discussed sunstroke, but it is a completely different disease. What are the symptoms of a stroke? And what are the risk factors?
What is a stroke?
A stroke occurs when a part of the brain does not receive enough oxygenated blood. The most common cause of this disorder is a blocked artery or other type of bleeding in the brain. Due to the lack of constant access to blood, brain cells do not receive enough oxygen, which is why cells die. A stroke is a life-threatening condition, which is why it is so important to familiarize yourself with its symptoms.
What are the symptoms of a stroke?
The symptoms of a stroke are quite characteristic and easy to spot. Below is a list of the areas of the body where such symptoms occur and how they manifest:
• Face – one side of the face usually droops. The patient has difficulty moving their mouth, even in the shape of a smile, and their eyelids
• Arms – a person suspected of having a stroke may have trouble raising both arms up. Additionally, they will not be able to keep them in this position. The arms are weak and numb
• Speech – a patient with a stroke speaks unclearly or cannot say anything at all. Such a person also has trouble understanding what others say.
If you notice any of these symptoms, you should immediately call the emergency number.
Ischemic stroke:
The most common type of stroke that occurs in patients is called ischemic stroke. The cause of this condition is most often the blockage of a blood vessel by an atherosclerotic plaque or a clot. When the blockage occurs only locally in the brain, it is called thrombosis. Unfortunately, clots can also travel to other places in the body. In this case, we talk about embolism.
Risk factors:
In some cases, we can prevent a stroke from occurring. Much depends on our eating habits and physical activity. Risk factors that we can eliminate in ourselves include:
• Obesity or being overweight
• Lack of physical activity
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Smoking
Unfortunately, there are also risk factors that we cannot prevent by changing our habits. These are the following conditions that can increase the patient’s chance of having a stroke:
• Hypertension
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Cardiovascular diseases – heart failure, arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, heart defects
• Previous stroke in other family members
• COVID-19 infection
Additional risk factors include:
• The risk of getting sick increases with age, especially after the age of 55
• Men are more likely to get sick than women
• Taking certain medications containing hormones also increases the risk of having a stroke
