Stroke is a vascular disease of the brain that causes damage to a part of the brain, due to disruption of blood flow. During a stroke attack, brain cells can die in just minutes.
Impaired nerve function in stroke is caused by non-traumatic cerebral circulatory disorders. These nerve disorders cause symptoms such as facial or limb paralysis, slurred speech, slurred speech, changes in consciousness, visual disturbances, and others.
Stroke is the number one cause of disability and the second leading cause of death in the world after ischemic heart disease in both developed and developing countries. Generally, stroke is experienced by people over 60 years old. However, it is not impossible for stroke to occur at a young age.
The cause of stroke at a young age is a poor lifestyle such as smoking and drinking alcohol which will lead to diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
Meanwhile, according to WHO, clinical signs of stroke can develop rapidly, worsen and last for 24 hours or more.
The main symptoms of stroke can be characterized by signs that occur in the following body parts:
1. Face: The face may fall to one side, the person may be unable to smile, the mouth or eyes may droop or hang weakly.
2. Arms: a person suspected of having a stroke may not be able to lift both arms and hold them. This is because the stroke has caused weakness or numbness in one of the arms.
3. Speech: speech sounds slurred or garbled, or the person may not be able to speak at all despite appearing awake. In addition, it may also be difficult to understand what Sahabat Persada is saying.
In addition, there are also other signs of stroke in men and women that may be experienced, including:
1. Sudden onset of numbness or weakness in the face, arms or legs, especially on one side of the body.
2. Confusion, difficulty speaking, or difficulty understanding speech.
3. Sudden difficulty seeing in one or both eyes.
4. Difficulty walking
5. Loss of balance, or lack of coordination.
6. Sudden severe dizziness and headache with no known cause.
There are two main causes of stroke that are commonly known: blocked arteries (ischemic stroke) and leakage or rupture of blood vessels (hemorrhagic stroke). In addition, some people may experience only a temporary interruption of blood flow to the brain, known as a mild stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA).
There are several risk factors for stroke, including:
1. Age. Often affects people over the age of 60. However, stroke can also affect younger people.
2. Gender. Men outnumber women, while women are more at risk for bleeding stroke than men.
3. Heart Disease. Some medications used to treat heart disease may increase the risk of bleeding stroke.
4. Hypertension. About 70% of stroke patients are caused by hypertension.
5. Smoking. A person who smokes 1 pack per day has a risk of stroke up to 2-2.5 times compared to non-smokers.
6. Diabetes
7. Obesity. Obesity can increase the risk of both bleeding and obstruction strokes, depending on the other risk factors that come along with it.
8. Drug Abuse. Drug abuse, especially cocaine and methamphetamine, is a strong risk factor for stroke especially at a young age. Similarly, steroids used for body building can also increase stroke.
9. Genetic
10. Emotional and mental factors such as severe stress have a higher risk of stroke.
11. Other physical and medical conditions such as sleep apnea.
As for the simple way that Friends of Persada can do to recognize the symptoms of stroke, that is by "IMMEDIATELY TO THE HOSPITAL".
1. Smile is not symmetrical,
2. Sudden weakness of half of the body,
3. slurred or broken speech to the point of not being able to speak at all,
4. Abas or numb,
5. Rabun / Nearsighted,
6. Severe headache that appears suddenly.
If you feel the symptoms or signs of a stroke as mentioned above, or if you have several risk factors for stroke, come and have yourself examined at Persada Hospital.
For more information, please call the Persada Hospital hotline at 081130588585.
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