Stroke (stroke) occurs when the brain is no longer flooded by blood. This sudden cessation of irrigation deprives the brain areas of oxygen. Stroke is the second leading cause of death in the world, affecting nearly 15 million people in both developed and developing countries.
What is a stroke?
What is a stroke?
Most of the time, a stroke occurs as a result of the lack of brain irrigation caused by an obstructed artery following clot formation, this is an ischemic stroke. It can also be caused by cerebral hemorrhage after rupture of a blood vessel.
In 80% of cases, a stroke occurs as a result of thrombosis of a cerebral artery and in 20% of cases, because of illness, here are the causes:
In 80% of cases, a stroke occurs as a result of thrombosis of a cerebral artery and in 20% of cases, because of illness, here are the causes:
- In 50% of the cases, the obstruction of a highway is due to the presence of lipids around its wall; it is about atherosclerosis.
- In 30% of the cases, a clot that comes from another organ blocks the cerebral circulation; it is about cerebral embolism.
- In 20% of cases, stroke is caused by cerebral hemorrhage due to aneurysm rupture, arterial hypertension or brain tumor.
It also happens that an artery is temporarily obstructed when the clot resorbs quickly without causing injury, it is a transient ischemic attack (TIA). The urgency of care is also essential because the risk of a new stroke within 24 hours is high.
Following a first stroke, the risk of relapse is estimated at between 30 and 43% during the five years following the crisis. Generally, one in ten recovers fully from the stroke while the other nine are likely to suffer from lesions that will be more or less important depending on the affected area and the time of medical care.
It is essential to be able to recognize the symptoms of a stroke because early management reduces the risk of death by 30% and limits the severity of sequelae.
Stroke symptoms
Although there are no warning signs of stroke, it is nevertheless possible to intervene as soon as the following symptoms appear:
Stroke symptoms and how to prevent them
Stroke symptoms and how to prevent them
- Dizziness and loss of balance
- Movement disorders or even paralysis of a limb or a side, this is the opposite side to that of the brain injury
- Speech problems and difficulties in finding words and expressing oneself
- Blurred vision of one or both eyes or sudden loss of sight
- Numbness of the face and impossibility of smiling
- Severe, frequent headache with vomiting
A transient ischemic attack is also a warning signal because this accident precedes about one-third of ischemic stroke.
If you notice one or more of these symptoms, contact the emergency services immediately for medical help. If the intervention is done quickly, the after-effects will be less critical.
If you are in the presence of a person who suffers from these symptoms, you can intervene while waiting for the arrival of a medical team.
Ask him to smile, lift his arms and utter a series of simple words. If the person fails these exercises, place the person in the lateral safety position by putting her on the side, head back, open mouth facing the ground so that she can not bite her tongue and that it does not do not interfere with the flow of vomiting. Wait until the doctor arrives.
How to prevent stroke?
It is entirely possible to prevent or prevent stroke by taking specific actions essential to a healthy lifestyle:
- A balanced diet free from foods that are too fat and sweet, choose fruits, vegetables and whole grains, lean meats, and foods rich in potassium
- Smoking cessation
- The decrease or even the suspension of alcohol consumption
- Regular physical activity
- Blood pressure monitoring and frequent medical follow-up
- Better stress management
- Maintaining your healthy weight.