World Stroke Day: Symptoms such as sudden dizziness, difficulty speaking, or weakness in one arm may not seem serious at first. Often people see it as tiredness, not eating on time, or needing a little rest. However, if these symptoms appear suddenly, they may indicate a stroke. stroke As this is a medical emergency, every moment spent in treatment can affect the patient's chances of recovery.(Photo courtesy – istock)
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“One of the biggest challenges in stroke treatment is that patients and their families do not recognize early warning signs in time. They wait, try home remedies, or postpone going to the hospital in the hope that symptoms will subside on their own. However, this delay can reduce the likelihood of timely treatment and increase the risk of permanent disability,” he said. Dr. Ishant Rege, Consultant, Neurosurgery and Neurointervention, Apollo Hospitals, Punesays.
Warning signs of stroke are often ignored; Doctors appeal not to delay in seeking emergency treatment
What exactly happens when a stroke occurs?
A stroke can occur when the blood supply to a part of the brain is interrupted or a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Brain cells start to get damaged due to not getting enough oxygen. Depending on which part of the brain is affected, the patient may have difficulty moving, speaking, seeing, maintaining body balance, or understanding things.
Major danger symptoms of stroke:
Bending of the face to one side: One side of the face may look different from the other side or droop down when smiling.
Arm Weakness or Deafness: You may suddenly experience weakness in one arm or difficulty raising your arm.
Speech difficulty: slurred speech, slurred speech, or difficulty understanding what others are saying.
Sudden vision changes: blurred vision or difficulty seeing.
Disturbance of body balance: Sudden dizziness, difficulty walking, or loss of body coordination.
Severe headache: A sudden and unbearable headache for no apparent reason can also be a warning sign.
“Symptoms of stroke can appear without pain, so people often do not recognize the seriousness of the situation. Even if the symptoms disappear within a few minutes, they should not be ignored. These symptoms can be transient ischemic attack (TIA) i.e. temporary stroke or 'mini stroke'. Even in such cases, urgent medical examination is necessary,” said Dr. Stroke symptoms are not always acute, Rege explains. Sometimes they can be mistaken for fatigue, weakness or temporary physical problems.
Why is it important to seek immediate medical attention?
Treatment for stroke depends on its type, time of onset of symptoms, and patient's condition. As some treatments can only be given within a certain time frame, it is very important to get the patient to the hospital as soon as possible.
What should families do if a stroke is suspected?
Contact an ambulance or emergency medical service immediately without waiting for symptoms to subside.
The exact time of onset of symptoms or when the patient was last seen in a normal state should be recorded.
Do not rely on home remedies or try to treat symptoms without medical help.
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Can stroke risk be reduced?
- Not every stroke is preventable. However, making certain lifestyle changes can help reduce the risk of stroke.
- Blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol should be kept under control.
- Tobacco consumption should be avoided and other risk factors should be controlled as advised by the doctor.
- Exercise regularly and eat a balanced diet.
- For pre-existing health problems consult a doctor and take prescribed medicines regularly.
- One thing is important to remember when it comes to stroke. Do not wait for symptoms to become severe. If the danger symptoms are recognized in time and immediate medical help is sought, a big positive change can be made in the patient's life.