What are the symptoms of stroke?

As mentioned before, stroke is a consequence of interrupted oxygen and nutrition to the brain tissue. When the neurons are damaged secondary to stroke, they produce characteristic symptoms including the following:

There is sudden weakness and numbness in the limbs, especially in the arms, particularly on one side of the body. There is also trouble walking with loss of coordination and balance if the legs are involved. The patient can look confused, with trouble in comprehending instructions as well as trouble speaking. Alternatively, they can appear agitated while saying gibberish.  Some strokes present with difficulty in seeing out of one or both eyes.

Impending stroke is heralded by transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) which are symptoms similar to stroke but lasting only a few minutes. TIAs are warning signs for the brain but don’t cause permanent damage.

Stroke Risk Assessment

Stroke risk can be assessed using a scorecard for eight categories. Once the patient fills the scorecard, the cumulative score gives an idea about the probability of stroke and future cerebrovascular accident in this patient.

The Stroke Risk Assessment includes the following:

1. Blood pressure

For people with normal blood pressure, less than 120 systolic and 80 diastolic, the risk is low. Caution is recommended for people with BP ranges between 120-139 by 80-89 mm Hg. People with blood pressure reading consistently over 140/90 are considered high risk.

2. Smoking

Smokers with high pack years are at higher risk for cerebrovascular accidents compared to non-smokers while those who are trying to quit are cautioned.

3. Cholesterol

For people with total cholesterol between 200 and 239, caution is recommended. For low risk, total cholesterol must be less than 200, while high risk patients have readings greater than 240.

4. Diabetes

Diabetics are considered high risk for cerebrovascular accidents, while those with borderline high HbA1C are cautioned.

5. Atrial fibrillation

Conditions associated with atrial fibrillation and irregular heartbeat have a high risk for cerebrovascular accidents as emboli are common in atrial fibrillation. If the heartbeat is not irregular, the risk of stroke is low.

6. Family history

Patients with positive family history of stroke are considered high risk while those with no family history are at low risk.

7. Weight

Patients who are slightly overweight are cautioned, and those with healthy weight are at low risk. Overweight and obese individuals are at high risk of stroke.

8. Exercise

Those who exercise regularly or exercise a few times a week are at lesser risk than those with a sedentary lifestyle.

People with a caution score between 4 to 6 should work with nutritionists and healthcare providers to bring their score to the low risk category. Those who score 6 to 8 in the low risk category are considered in good health.

People with an overall score of 3 or more for high risk categories should see their healthcare provider urgently about stroke prevention strategies. If they feel an onset of loss of coordination, trouble seeing, face drooping on smiling, downward arm drift, and slurred speech, they should get a ct scan in karachi urgently to rule out stroke. Time is of the essence in cerebrovascular accidents and urgent care can prevent irreversible injury.

Health2med Author

The post Assessing the risk of stroke appeared first on Health2med.

Read on to know what you should do immediately if you observe someone having a stroke:

What are the signs of stroke?

Stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is decreased or blocked altogether. The signs and symptoms of stroke can vary according to the severity of ischemia.The warning signs of stroke, however, can be recognized through the acronym of the National Stroke Association:FAST.

F: is for the face, which can droop to one side or be numb.

A: is for the weakness of the arm when both are raised together. This weakness would mean one arm is lower than the other.

S:is for slurring of speech as a result of ischemia.

T:is for time to call for help if the aforementioned check-list is positive.

Other symptoms include: weakness in the leg, which is mostly unilateral, blurring of vision in one eye, sudden fall or unsteadiness in gait and severe headache with no apparent cause.

What to do when you observe someone having a stroke?

When you are sure someone is having a stroke, do not leave them unattended when calling for help. For a non-medical individual, the hardest part is recognizing the signs of stroke, but once recognized, their only job is to call for help, timely.

Once help is on the way, make a note of the time of onset of first symptom. As mentioned before, time is of great importance when it comes to stroke. The reason is that drug for stroke, which can potentially reverse the symptoms, or stop the progression of stroke can be given only within 4.5 hours from the appearance of first symptom. This drug is called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), which is great medication for bursting clots.

Making a note of the time of onset of symptoms allows the healthcare providers to make an informed decision about administration of tPAs.

Stroke can result in loss of consciousness. If you see someone who is unconscious and not breathing or doesn’t have a heartbeat, administer CPR. If need be, ask the operator of the emergency services to guide you through it. American Heart Association recommends steady, repeated chest compressions if the patient is not breathing. CPR can be life-saving until the ambulance arrives.

What not to do when someone is having a stroke?

Patients of stroke should not be allowed to go to sleep even though such patients can feel very sleepy. The patient should be brought immediately to the emergency room so medication can be administered.

Do not administer any medication to the patient on your own. Many people assume that aspirin is the only drug that should be given to the stroke patients. However, aspirin treats only ischemic stroke and in fact is contraindicated for hemorrhagic stroke. So, to be on the safe side, do not give any drugs to the patient.

Stroke onset is often preceded by warning signs which are known as transient ischemic attack which are known as ‘mini-strokes’. TIAs last for a few minutes only and herald the onset of stroke. If someone has TIAs, they should book an immediate appointment with Neurologist in Karachi so their workup can be done.

Health2med Author

The post What is the first aid for a stroke patient? appeared first on Health2med.

1. When it comes to sleep, aim for the number seven. 

In one study, young and middle-aged adults who slept more than 7 hours a night had less calcium in their arteries, an early sign of heart disease, than those who slept for 5 hours or less or those who slept for 9 hours or more. This study concludes that sleeping for around 7 hours a night is optimal. 

2. Keep the blood pressure in control 

If the blood pressure gets too high, the extra force can damage the artery walls and create scar tissue. This makes the heart pump harder and gets more oxygen to the body. If the body is not able to get sufficient oxygen, it tends to behave differently. Getting the blood pressure checked every 3-4 weeks is a good practice that helps in keeping a track. Cutting back on salt and having good eating habits is also an important factor to maintain heart health. In most cases, mild hypertension can be managed by medication and is usually easy for patients to manage.

3. Reduce saturated fats. 

To help the heart’s arteries, cutting down on saturated fats is a good step. These are found in meat and dairy products. Choosing leaner fat options is a recommended choice. These saturated fats increase the LDL levels of cholesterol in the blood resulting in more chances of heart problems. 

4. Finding if you are suffering from diabetes. 

Millions of people are undiagnosed cases of diabetes. Over time, these high levels of glucose in the blood result in damaged arteries which lead to worsening of the heart conditions. If a person is 45 years of age or older, they should test themselves for diabetes. Other risk factors for diabetes can include –

• Being pregnant
• Being overweight

Working with your doctor to modify the lifestyle (diet and exercise) and a medicinal course is usually sufficient for mild diabetic cases.

If a patient has borderline high blood glucose, called prediabetes, things can be turned around very easily. They are usually advised to trade carbs with fiber-rich whole grains. This changes a lot of bodily processes and takes the body towards positive growth. These steps are a start, but doing so helps the body to recover from the damage caused.

5. Exercise more. 

To maintain a schedule, it is advisable to aim for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week of moderate exercise. This can include any activity that gets you moving around and breaking a sweat. If you are not doing anything, do something, concluding that if you think that the time is idle, utilize that time to work out. If working out is too much, try moving around the house or the office a little to get the heart pacing and reach for results. The usual advice given by cardiologists is to break a long period of sitting. If you think you’ve been sitting for a while, get up or start walking. These things can be incorporated while watching TV or talking over the phone.

6. . Clean up. 

The heart runs the best when it works on clean fuel. Clean fuel means eating healthy and what keeps your heart running right. That means a lot of whole, plant-based foods (fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds) and lesser refined/processed foods (white bread, pasta, crackers, and cookies).

One of the fastest ways to clean up the diet is to cut out all the sugary beverages like soda and fruit juice. These juices contain only the sugar but lack the fibre that is present in the actual fruit. 

7. Check if your weight is in the proper range. 

Check your BMI and make sure if it is in the healthy range. If you have a high BMI, then plan to shed some pounds by diet modifications primarily. Apart from these, exercise regimes and being more active helps in keeping the weight in the appropriate range. This reduces the risk of heart problems. 

8. Say no to cigarettes (real and electronic)

Smoking and secondhand smoke are bad for the heart. If you smoke, quit. If you don’t, and people around you do, spend less time there. 

9. Do more of what you like to do. 

The best way of managing stress in a healthy way is to meditate, yoga or exercise. If these things help you in relieving the stress a little, try these. For other, talking to their loved ones, laughing, or enjoying the company of their close ones can also prove helpful. It’s good for emotional health and your heart.

10. Celebrating each step. 

Making changes will take time and a lot of effort. The aim of taking these steps should be progress, not perfection. Rewarding yourself on every positive step taken will support the emotional well-being and motivate furthermore. 

Ruchi Singh

Experienced digital marketer with a knack for devising and executing strategies that skyrocket online presence. Proficient in SEO, PPC, content creation, and analytics. Let’s collaborate and amplify your brand’s digital footprint. Connect now for a digital transformation journey!

health2med.com

The post 10 Small Steps for Better Heart Health appeared first on Health2med.