3 SIGNS TO KNOW IF YOU ARE ABOUT TO HAVE A STROKE

Today is world stroke day and it's no news that stroke has been recognized as one of Nigeria's  leading causes of mortality.


what actually is a stroke?

In plain English a stroke is simply a condition that arises due to cell death in parts of the brain, usually due to an impeded blood flow to this region.
Strokes could be Ischemic[reduced blood flow] or hemorrhagic[caused by bleeding]





stroke has an avalanche of cause ranging from hypertension to high blood cholesterol levels to end-stage kidney disease and lots more but the leading cause of stroke is definitely hypertension.



How then do you know if you're having a stroke or if you are at risk of a stroke?

like other medical conditions, stroke might present a myriad of symptoms. But the main symptoms may include; 

1. Arm drift


If when you try to raise both hands you involuntarily let one hand drift downward you could be at risk for stroke. in fact this sign alone could increase the risk of a stroke by up to 5.5*


2. Sudden face weakness

Although this could also be caused by bell's palsy, see how they two symptoms can be differentiated below.




3. Abnormal speech
Stroke patients may experience speech defects which could either be aphasia or apraxia[usually less common]. these conditions are usually due to stroke in the left side of the brain. more


when all three of these symptoms are absent the likelihood is decreased by about 0.39*



A mnemonic to remember these warning signs is FAST!


F-  facial drop
A-  arm weakness
S-  speech difficulty
T-  time to call emergency!



note however that FAST is less reliable in recognizing posterior circulation stroke



Prevention

modifiable risk factors for stroke should be given attention especially for patients living with high blood cholesterol levels. Patients with these risk factors should desist from cigarettes' smoking[including passive smoking], heavy alcohol use, Sedentary lifestyle, processed red meat consumption and unhealthy diet.




Stroke symptoms might start suddenly and last from a few seconds to minutes. These symptoms depend on what part of the brain is affected by the stroke. Stroke patients are advised to see a qualified medical practitioner as soon as these symptoms are detected.

Stay healthy!













 

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