Decoding Brain Strokes: What You Must Know to Protect Your Brain

A brain stroke, also commonly referred to as brain attack can come presumably without warning, leaving quite an impact on a person’s overall health, quality of life and mobility. Despite these extreme consequences, the understanding of brain stroke is very minimal and limited. To address that, we need a comprehensive literature on brain stroke that can empower us in terms of knowledge about brain stroke, the type, immediate risk factors, signs, symptoms and preventive measures. This pool of knowledge will arm you with all the necessary tools and knowledge to manage your brain health.

In this blogpost, we will shed some light on the aforementioned aspect, let’s begin with

What is Brain Stroke?

When the blood supply towards the brain gets disrupted and prevents oxygen from entering into the brain thereby the restriction of essential nutrients. When this happens, within minutes, brain cells can start to die, making brain strokes a significant medical emergency that can alter the course of life.

Types of Strokes

Brain strokes are broadly classified into three sorts:

1.     Ischemic Stroke: This is one of the most common type of brain strokes. It accounts for majority of all brain strokes. This is caused by a blood clot or atherosclerosis, which means when blood vessels become narrow, that blocks the flow of the blood to the brain.

2.     Haemorrhagic Stroke: This type of brain stroke happens when a blood vessel in the brain bursts which leads to bleeding in and around the brain.

3.     Transient Ischemic Attack: This type of brain stroke is also known as a “Mini-stroke”. This is a temporary/transient disruption of the blood flow towards the brain. While the symptoms resolves within 24-hours, it acts as a serious warning for the future strokes.

Why Do Strokes Happen?

Understanding the reasons of strokes involves recognising their risk factors. Some are manageable via lifestyle modifications while other are not as they have a lot to do with age and genetics. 

Some of the modifiable risk factors are:

High Blood Pressure: This accounts for the leading cause of strokes

Diabetes: Uncontrolled blood sugar can further lead to nerve damage. Which causes damaged blood vessels

High Cholesterol: High cholesterol furthers the risk of plaque build-up in arteries.

Smoking: Doubles the risk of brain stroke by damaging blood vessels thereby increasing clotting.

Sedentary Lifestyle: This is a lifestyle centric reason wherein lack of body movement furthers the  cause of the stroke.

Obesity: Increased weight can often contribute to the leading cause of the stroke.

Alcohol and Drug Use: Unregulated and unmanaged consumption of alcohol and smoking raises blood pressure thereby damaging the blood vessels.

Warning Sign of Stroke

The ability to recognize the symptoms of a brain stroke can save lives. One needs to remember the acronym:

1.     Face Dropping: One side of the face droops or feels numb.

2.     Arm Weakens: Sudden loss of control, weakness or numbness in one arm or leg especially on one side.

3.     Speech Difficulty: Incoherent speech or slurred speech or inability to speak properly.

4.     Time to call emergency: Immediate medical attention is required

• Other key signs to watch out for when stroke happens:
• Sudden confusion and trouble comprehending speech
• Loss of vision and blurred vision in one or both of the eyes
• Difficulty maintaining a pace, walking, loss of balance and dizziness
• Consistent and severe headache with no known causes

How to Address a Brain Stroke?

Stroke treatment is very time sensitive. The first hour after the stroke onset is referred to as “Golden Hour”. This Golden Hour can decide the chances of recovery and the intensity of brain damage.

Preventing Brain Strokes

The good news is that with timely intervention, stroke can be prevented. It requires lifestyle changes and proactive health management. This is how one can mitigate your risks:

1.     Controlled Blood Pressure

2.     Adoption of Heart-healthy Lifestyle

3.     Including Physical Activeness

4.     Quitting Alcohol & Smoking Intake

5.     Management of Chronic Conditions

The Role of Rehabilitation

Those who survive a brain stoke, the road to recovery doesn’t end with emergency treatment. Rehabilitation plays a crucial role in regaining independence of life and improving control of its quality.

Some of the most common rehabilitation therapies:

Physical Therapy: This aids in restoring strength, coordination and balance.

Speech Therapy: Helps with communication and swallowing issues.

Occupational Therapy: This aids in assisting daily lives skills to improve independence.

Psychological Counselling: Focuses on improving mental health ad emotional strength.

How can we raise awareness about STROKE?

The global burden of strokes can be lessened by awareness and education. Some of the simple ways of enabling awareness is knowing the signs, advocating for awareness and supporting community health events.

If you or your loved ones want to explore the top-notch treatment by the neurologists at Paras Health. Our facilities have the most sought-after treatment plans, doctors, support staff and advanced tools and machinery to assist the stroke management. In case you need to talk to our health experts, please reach us at 080 3538 3051.