Health Care: Your diet is fairly balanced, you manage your daily activities and you with health No related complaints. But that doesn't mean your health is nothing to worry about. High blood sugar and cholesterol levels can slowly affect health for years without showing any noticeable symptoms. By the time these symptoms appear, some damage to the body may have already been done. About this Dr. Madhura Jogwar, Lab Chief, Metropolis Healthcare Limited (Mumbai) He has given detailed information about this.(Photo courtesy – istock)
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As we celebrate World Stroke Day on October 29, it is important to raise awareness about two important factors that silently affect our health: high blood sugar and high cholesterol. It is equally important to understand why it is important to keep both of these things under control even when you feel perfectly healthy.
Raised Sugar and Cholesterol Awareness:
Blood sugar i.e. blood glucose is the main source of energy for the body. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, helps glucose reach the body's cells. When insulin doesn't work properly or the body doesn't produce enough insulin, blood sugar levels rise and can gradually lead to diabetes. This process happens gradually. A person may have elevated blood sugar for months or even years, but may not always have the usual symptoms of diabetes. Similarly, pre-diabetes means that blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but have not yet reached the level of diabetes. If not properly checked, this condition is also often not noticed.
Cholesterol is a type of fatty substance in the body. It is needed for building cells in the body and for the production of certain hormones. However, when LDL cholesterol, commonly known as 'bad cholesterol', is high, it starts accumulating on the inner walls of blood vessels. This creates layers called plaques. Over time, these layers narrow the blood vessels and reduce their elasticity.
How is this related to stroke?
A stroke can occur in two ways. In the first type, the blood vessel that supplies the brain is blocked and oxygen does not reach the brain. This is called ischemic stroke. In the second type, a blood vessel in the brain bursts and bleeds into or around the brain. This is called Haemorrhagic Stroke.
If the amount of LDL cholesterol is high, it helps in the formation of plaques in the arteries. These plaques can block blood vessels and increase the risk of ischemic stroke. Diabetes causes damage to blood vessels. That is, the inner lining of the blood vessels is affected, the inflammation in the body increases and the process of atherosclerosis (Atherosclerosis) can happen rapidly. Atherosclerosis is the process of gradual narrowing of the arteries by the accumulation of fatty deposits. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for hemorrhagic stroke. Besides, diabetes also increases the risk of other diseases like high blood pressure and heart disease.
Having high blood sugar and cholesterol levels, along with high blood pressure, smoking, lack of physical activity, or being overweight increases the risk. All these factors work to increase the effect of each other. According to the information of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in America (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), people with diabetes are almost twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke as compared to others. Even a simple blood test can make an important difference. The good thing is, these problems don't require complicated tests to diagnose.
A blood glucose test measures the current level of sugar in the blood. The HbA1c test measures the average blood sugar level over the past two to three months. Lipid Profile This test measures total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol (often called 'good cholesterol') and triglycerides, another type of blood fat.
Apo A, Apo B and Lipoprotein(a) are some of the specialized lipid related tests. These tests help understand the risk of cardiovascular disease by providing more information than a routine lipid profile. These tests can be especially helpful for people with diabetes, people with heart disease at a young age, or people with a strong family history of heart attack or stroke.
Your doctor can advise you on which tests to do and how often to repeat them, taking into account your age, family medical history, weight, blood pressure and other risk factors. If any abnormality is reported during the examination, it should be considered in relation to the overall health of the patient. Also, decisions regarding treatment should be taken only on the advice of a doctor.
Small things in your daily lifestyle are important to keep your blood vessels healthy. Eat a balanced diet that includes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, pulses and fiber-rich foods. Limit sugary drinks, highly processed foods and foods high in salt. Do some moderate exercise every week to boost your health. This can include brisk walking, swimming or cycling. Abstain from tobacco and smoking, limit alcohol consumption, control weight and take prescribed medications regularly.
Finally, recognizing the warning signs of stroke is also very important. Sudden tilting of the face to one side, weakness or deafness in an arm or leg, difficulty speaking, loss of body balance or sudden change in vision are the main symptoms of a stroke. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of these symptoms.
The 'golden hour' i.e. the critical time of onset is very crucial in the treatment of stroke. Because time means the brain! Every minute of delay in treatment can cause more brain cells to die. Therefore, recognizing the symptoms of stroke on time and reaching a hospital with stroke treatment facilities can make a big difference in the patient's life.
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This World Stroke Day, make a simple promise to yourself: Don't wait for symptoms to show up to take care of your health. Conduct necessary health checks on time and take appropriate action if any changes are found in the reports. A few minutes spent on preventive health screenings today can help protect your health, quality of life and future tomorrow.