Stroke Prevention, Risk Factors & Warning Signs

Anyone can have a Stroke

Many people believe that stroke occurs only in older people, but it can strike anyone at anytime. In fact, in India, nearly one-fifth of people admitted to hospitals with first-ever stroke are aged 40 or less.

What is Stroke?

A stroke is a medical emergency wherein the blood supply to the brain is blocked by a clot or tear in a blood vessel. It is also referred to as a “brain attack”. A stroke can kill as many as 32,000 brain cells in just 1 second!

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Risk Factors

1. High blood pressure
2. High Cholesterol
3. Less or no physical activity
4. Smoking
5. Obesity
6. A personal or family Obesity history of stroke
7. Diabetes
8. Unhealthy eating habits
9. Alcohol abuse

Regular health tests help identify rise in cholesterol values.

Warning Signs

Warning signs can begin anywhere from a few minutes to days before a stroke. Everyone, especially those who are at increased risk for stroke, should learn these warning signs:

• Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm, or leg (especially on one side of the body).
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding speech.
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.

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Dealing with a Stroke: Act FAST

Follow these 4 simple steps to help you recognize whether someone might have had a stroke:

• F – Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
• A – Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
• S – Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred?
• T – If the answer to any of these questions is yes, call 112 or get to a stroke care unit ASAP.

4-point Stroke Prevention Plan

1. Control blood pressure
2. Cut back on smoking and alcohol
3. Keep Cholesterol in control
4. Exercise & eat healthy diet

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Remember, 80% of Strokes are Preventable!

A healthy lifestyle and comprehensive health check-ups every 6 months helps lower risk of getting stroke.
Have been over 6 months since your last health check-up? Do not delay it anymore.

Image Credit: By Nattanan Zia – Shutterstock.com

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