World Stroke Day: Awareness, Prevention, and Support

Dr.Madhukar Bhardwaj, 3 mins read

World Stroke Day is observed on 29th October every year. It is a global initiative to raise awareness about stroke, its devastating effects, and the importance of prevention, timely treatment, and support to those suffering from this debilitating disease.

Understanding Stroke:

A stroke is an emergency life-threatening condition that occurs when the blood supply to the part of the brain is interrupted. This can be due to a blockage (ischemic stroke) or rupture (hemorrhagic stroke) of blood vessels.

Reduced or blocked blood flow cuts off oxygenated blood supply to the brain. As a result, brain cells start to die in minutes.

Thus, it’s essential to take the patient immediately to a nearby hospital that has adequate facilities to manage stroke cases. Early medical care can reduce brain damage and stroke complications.

How to recognise stroke signs?

One of the best approaches to recognising stroke signs is FAST. As per the American Stroke Association, F.A.S.T. stands for:

• Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of their face droop?
• Arm: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
• Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Is their speech slurred or difficult to understand?
• Time: Time is of the essence. Act F.A.S.T. and seek medical attention immediately.

Risk Factors:

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Heart diseases
• Certain medicines
• High cholesterol
• Excessive alcohol use
• Drug abuse
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Physical inactivity
• Family history
• History of transient ischemic attacks

Prevention Strategies:

• Maintain healthy blood pressure
• Manage diabetes
• Exercise regularly
• Eat a balanced diet
• Quit smoking
• Limit alcohol consumption
• Monitor cholesterol levels
• Address other risk factors
• Periodically consult your doctor to keep a check on your vitals and overall health

Complications:

• Loss of muscle movement or paralysis
• Problem with swallowing or talking
• Difficulty thinking or memory loss
• Pain
• Emotional symptoms
• Behavioural changes

Diagnosis:

Soon you reach the hospital, you will be taken for a combination of exams that may include a physical exam, CT scan, MRI, blood tests, carotid ultrasound, cerebral angiogram, and echocardiogram. These tests will help the doctor to confirm the diagnosis and find the type and severity of stroke.

Timely Treatment:

There are advanced medical treatments to reduce the damage to the brain and prevent the recurrence of stroke. Stroke treatment usually depends on the type and severity of stroke. Remember treatment is most effective when started early.

Ischemic stroke:

The treatment aim is to restore the interrupted blood supply to the brain. This can be done through an Emergency IV medicine (Tissue plasminogen activator - TPA) or endovascular procedure. Sometimes carotid endarterectomy or an angioplasty may be performed to open up the narrowed artery.

Hemorrhagic stroke:

The treatment is aimed at controlling the blood in the brain and reducing the symptoms. The patient is given certain medicines or blood products. For severe cases, surgical procedures are done. These procedures may include surgical clipping, endovascular embolisation, surgical removal of AVM or stereotactic radiosurgery.