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
- High blood pressure
- High Cholesterol
- Less or no physical activity
- Smoking
- Obesity
- A personal or family Obesity history of stroke
- Diabetes
- Unhealthy eating habits
- 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
- Control blood pressure
- Cut back on smoking and alcohol
- Keep Cholesterol in control
- 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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