Stroke is a cardiovascular accident.
It happens when the flow of oxygen-rich blood to a brain area is blocked. Without oxygen, brain cells in that area diet quickly.
Sudden bleeding the brain can also lead to a stroke if brain cells are damaged.
Stroke has many signs and symptoms and it is not hard to spot.
According to NIH, the common signs and symptoms include:
- Sudden weakness
- Paralysis of the face, arms, legs, especially on one side of the body. This is because when brain cells in a certain brain area die, the part of the body controlled by that area will be affected.
- Difficulty in speaking or understanding speech
- Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Trouble walking, loss of balance or coordination,
- Sudden and severe headache
- Loss of consciousness.
The symptoms can start in a very short time. Because brain cells can die within several minutes, rapid treatment is very important.
Stroke can cause serious brain damage and change one’s life forever. While the disease can occur very fast, the recovery is slow, often taking months or years.
If we can prevent stroke from happening, we can save lives.
May is stroke awareness month, researchers from New-York Presbyterian Hospital provide 5 tips to prevent stroke.
Consuming less salt. This is important because high-salt diets can lead to high blood pressure, which is a big risk factor of stroke.
People who frequently eat highly processed food like chips, hamburgers and French fries need to pay attention to their daily salt intake and cut the amount.
Eat a healthy diet. A healthy, balanced diet includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, fatty fish and beans. It should be low in added sugar, added salt, saturated fat, artificial sweeteners, but rich in dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals.
A healthy diet can help control blood cholesterol levels, reduce heart disease risk and protect you from stroke.
Stop smoking. Smoking can not only cause cancer, but also harm the brain. This is smoking can damage blood vessels, raise blood pressure, and promote blood clots. Research has shown that smoking people are at twice the risk of having a stroke.
Drinking less alcohol. Heavy alcohol drinking can increase blood pressure and increase heart attack risk. Both are big factors of stroke.
Exercise regularly. Doctors say exercise is the best medicine. In fact it is better than medicine because it can prevent chronic diseases and cancers happening. You should aim for 150 minutes exercise every week to improve your overall health.
While stroke can happen in a wide range of age, people 55 years of age or older have higher risk. People who already have had a stroke or a transient ischemic attack have higher risk too.
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