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If you are reading this – Thank you!!!
It shows that you are interested in one of the most important topics of our time: Stroke.
One in four adult people (not kidding π³) will have a stroke in their lifetime. Like 25% of humanity. Take a minute and think about that.Β
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Unfortunately, mostly we just don’t know enough about it aside of “Something with the brain”. But we’ll change that here quickly.
But first things first. The 2 most important ones:
Know how to recognize a stroke (below)! And when you suspect someone having a stroke – GO TO HOSPITAL! IMMEDIATELY!
So many still believe that a stroke is something you can’t really do anything about – but that’s just not true. Act fast, and change the outcome.
Acute treatment can be expensive – but not treating it will cost more over time.
When a stroke happens, part of the brain loses its blood supply. This damages the brain! There are two main types of strokes: “Ischemic/ clot” and “hemorrhagic = that means bleeding”. Both types can have the same symptoms, but treatment will be different.Β
The best stroke is the one that never happens.
Preventing a stroke is easy in theory (harder in reality), you just have to lower your Risk Factors:
– β‘οΈ High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
– β‘οΈ Lack of exercise
– β‘οΈ Obesity
– β‘οΈ Smoking
– β‘οΈ Bad eating habits
– β‘οΈ Alcohol
Reduce these, and you will less likely get a stroke. Simple as that.
π Take your blood pressure pills. ποΈββοΈ Work out. If you’re fat: π€ Eat less. βπ¬ Don’t smoke. Don’t eat too much refined stuff, π¬ sugar and salt. More fresh food, π vegetables and π fruit. πββοΈ Move π΄ββοΈ Don’t drink too much βπ» alcohol, drink more π§ water.
(We know it’s a bit harder than it sounds – but it’s worth working on these. By the way: This is exactly the way to lower your risk of cardiovascular disease, too)
There are some more Risk Factors, but those are harder to control. (Check the “… read more” section!)
Let’s welcome the acronym BE-FAST.
What we need here are the frist three letters:
B Β β‘οΈ Β Balance
E Β β‘οΈ Β Eye-Movement
FΒ β‘οΈΒ Face
AΒ β‘οΈΒ Arm
SΒ β‘οΈΒ Speech
For π₯΄ face and πͺ arm: If one side is suddenly going wrong, it’s a probably a stroke.
The “hanging half face” is the classic symptom of a stroke, as is the sudden weakness of only one arm without any other visible reason.
If the π€¬ voice is suddenly unclear and mumby, or someone is talking clear but nonsense, that’s possibly a stroke.
Remember FAST?
Now we’re at the missing letter T:
TΒ β‘οΈΒ Time. “Time is money” they say. Or in our case: β± Time is π§ Brain.
Call an π Ambulance. Immediately. Now! The clock is β± ticking.
The good news is: A stroke is treatable. The best π₯ acute treatments are called “Thrombolysis” and “Thrombectomy”- but both are only possible in the first few hours after a stroke. (That’s why you have to be so fast).Β
And Thrombolysis is easily applicable π (it’s only an infusion, no operation needed) – the only thing is: It can be expensive. But the outcome of an untreated stroke (lifelong care) is higher. Trust us.
And even if you are not “fast” enough to reach a hospital within the first few hours after a stroke – it is still sooo important to go to hospital, because they will prevent you from further damage!
Read more about:
Prevention
Stroke risks and prevention | World Stroke Organization
Recognition
Signs of Stroke – FAST | World Stroke Organisation
Treatment