Stroke: causes, symptoms, first aid, prevention

Stroke is a very common disease. According to statistics, every year around the world about 6 million people suffer from this scourge. In the Russian Federation, this figure is 450,000 people per year.  This figure is 4 times more than the same figure in the USA and Canada. This article will tell you how and why a stroke occurs, how you can help a person before the ambulance arrives, and how to treat him.

Causes of stroke

A stroke is nothing more than a disruption of blood flow in the brain. During a stroke, blood circulation in a specific lobe of the brain becomes difficult or stops completely.

The leaders in the risk category are older people. They are more likely to have a heart attack than others. People of both sexes after 65 most often have a diagnosis in their anamnesis of “post-stroke dementia.” Gender also plays a role: among representatives of the stronger sex, hemorrhage occurs much more often than among representatives of the weaker sex. Stroke victims most often occur in people who lead a sedentary lifestyle or have diabetes. Despite the fact that strokes occur more often in men, a greater degree of mortality can be traced among women.

List of ailments that put a person at risk of having a stroke:

1. Bad habits.
2. Sedentary lifestyle.
3. Age over 50.
4. Previous hemorrhage.
5. Taking hormonal contraceptives over a long period.
6. Poisoning.
7. Heredity.
8. Hypertension.
9. Heart diseases.
10. Overweight.
11. Migraine.
12. Increased blood density.
13. High cholesterol level in the blood.
14. Depression and severe stress.
15. Pregnancy.
16. Irregular heartbeat.
17. Anemia.

Types of stroke

Stroke is considered one of the key factors in the deterioration of brain activity in the elderly. There are 3 types of stroke.

• Ischemic stroke - blockage of blood circulation according to ischemic seems to happen if blood clot blocks an artery or vein in the brain. 80% of strokes are considered ischemic. This type can be caused by both air bubbles in the blood and blood parasites. In case of primary disease, mortality from it is 10-15% of all cases. But if the attack occurs again, the mortality rate increases to 60%
• Another type of stroke is hemorrhagic. This happens when a blood reservoir in the brain bursts and hemorrhages occur. In any case, the cells of the affected part of the brain stop absorbing air and the nutrients they require in sufficient quantities and die. This species is quite rare, occurring in only 10% of cases. But at the same time, a fatal outcome is much more likely - more than half of patients with this diagnosis die.
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage. It occurs between the membranes of the brain. Occurs in only 5% of cases, but the risk of mortality is very high, up to 50%. It is extremely difficult for the body to tolerate and it is very difficult not to remain disabled after such an attack.

The cause of blocking or rupture of a blood vessel in the brain can be:

1. The blood clot breaks off and the blood flow carries it into the cerebral arteries, most often into the carotid artery.
2. In the presence of atherosclerosis, a blood clot forms directly in the brain.
3. The structural features of the body are weak vascular walls by nature.
4. Trauma - blow to the head, car accident, fall.
5. High blood pressure.

Symptoms of a stroke

It is easy to accurately recognize a stroke - ask the person to smile. He won't be able to do this; one side of his lips won't move. Call an ambulance immediately.

You can also ask to raise both hands up, repeat simple phrases after you, or stick out your tongue. Failure to perform these exercises, or tongue curvature in any direction indicates a stroke.

Do not hesitate to approach a person who has suddenly collapsed on the street. You can save his life.

Signs by which a stroke is recognized:

• sudden weakness;
• numbness or even paralysis of the limbs on one side of the body;
• difficulty or disturbance of speech;
• loss of coordination of movements, falling;
• jumps or complete failure of vision;
• nausea, vomiting;
• loss of consciousness;
• breathing problems;
• red circles and dots before the eyes;
• convulsions;
• foam at the mouth;
• strabismus, gaze directed to the side of the body where the injury occurred;
• acute sharp headache, for no apparent reason.

If you find at least one sign of a stroke, call the doctors. Remember that a stroke develops quite quickly. If the patient receives qualified assistance within the first 2 hours, there is a good chance of avoiding dire consequences.

First aid for stroke

If you detect any of the signs of a stroke, immediately call an ambulance. While the doctors are traveling, you can provide first aid to the victim yourself.

1. Position the patient so that cerebral swelling does not occur. To do this, the torso from the back of the head to the tailbone should be 30 cm higher than the legs.
2. Provide the patient with a flow of fresh air - unbutton the collar, remove beads, tie and other items that interfere with free breathing.
3. Open the window; if you have air conditioning, turn it on.
4. Free the victim's mouth from mucus and other things. Place the patient's head on its side and wipe the oral cavity with a clean napkin.  If you have a denture, take it out.
5. To prevent the tongue from sticking or biting during a seizure, place an object in the patient's mouth that prevents the patient from clenching the teeth. A plastic pen held between the jaws, a clean handkerchief.
6. You need to apply ice to your head.
7. Provide complete rest to the victim.
8. In rare cases, but it still happens that the victim’s heart stops. In this case, it is necessary to start chest compressions and artificial respiration.
9. How to do indirect cardiac massage. Place your palms on the patient's chest, moving them slightly to the left. Fingers should be raised, hands placed one on top of the other. Press down on the victim's sternum with straight arms; bent arms will quickly deprive you of strength. Use your weight. You need to do 30-50 pressures per minute. Letting go of your hands each time. Every 15 compressions, it is necessary to exhale 2 times into the victim’s mouth.
10. Artificial respiration scheme. The patient is placed on his back. Use your hands to open his mouth and pinch his nose. Take air into your mouth and make 2 intense exhalations into the victim’s mouth. Check if breathing appears. Repeat if necessary.
11. If the patient has lost consciousness, it is forbidden to revive him using ammonia or other strong-smelling agents. This will only make the situation worse.
12. If possible, measure the victim's pulse and blood pressure. It is better to record the data.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with first aid techniques by watching an informational video.

Alternative medicine offers its own methods of first aid for stroke.  If the patient is conscious, ask him to cough frequently and forcefully. You need to take a deep breath and cough continuously until you run out of air.

Chinese medicine offers bloodletting as an option to treat the effects of a stroke.

1. During an attack, the pressure increases and by reducing it you can minimize damage. Of course, no medications can be used at this time. Chinese healers suggest placing the victim so that the head and torso are higher than the legs.
2. After which it is necessary to make punctures. Take a needle - from a syringe or a regular sewing needle. If the needle is not sterile, hold it over the fire for a few minutes. Then start making punctures in the skin a few millimeters from the nail. You need to prick all 10 fingers so that a drop of blood comes out.
3. If it doesn’t work with the first puncture, there is no need to poke the needle into the person until the blood starts flowing. Simply squeeze the victim's finger with your own hands and squeeze out a drop.   As soon as blood appears on all 10 fingers, the patient will come to his senses and his health will become much better.
4. Whatever method you decide to use, in any case, this does not give you a reason not to consult a doctor. A stroke is not a disease that can be endured on your feet.

Avoiding hospitalization in the event of a stroke is simply inappropriate. It could cost your life. If your relative stubbornly refuses hospitalization after receiving first aid, persuade him with all your might.

Stroke treatment

Having admitted a patient, the first thing doctors must do is stabilize his blood pressure. This will eliminate further ruptures of blood vessels and alleviate the patient’s condition.

Treatment occurs in several stages:

Intensive therapy, where the main symptoms are relieved.

1. Treatment in a hospital.
2. Home treatment regimen.
3. In the hospital, the victim must undergo:

course of vascular therapy;

• oxygen therapy;
• physiotherapy;
• massage;
• psychological support;
• subsequent prophylaxis to prevent recurrence of the attack;
• prescribing drugs that improve brain activity.
• The best treatment is prevention. Stopping a stroke in its infancy is only possible by bringing your lifestyle back to normal. Give up bad habits, fatty or spicy foods. Make friends with sports and stop being nervous over trifles. And the risk of having a stroke will be minimized.

Consequences of a stroke

During hemorrhage, nerve cells die or are significantly damaged. In case the pause in oxygen supply was not so long, and oxygen saturation resumed at the previous saturation. Then doctors diagnose a transistor ischemic attack, which is accompanied by a transient disorder of brain function, which is a signal of the further formation of circulatory pathology. Disease review statistics state:

1. During the acute period of a stroke, a third of patients need emotional help.
2. Half of the patients need complete and reliable data about the disease.
3. 70% require urgent technical support.
4. 8% expect virtually no support, being in a dejected mood.

A huge role is played by timely therapy and stable recovery, which is aimed at restoring mental work capacity and the body as a whole. Proper treatment with a further course of rehabilitation reduces the risk of unpleasant side effects of a stroke.

Any part of the brain can be affected during a stroke. That is, violations can affect any of the human skills. As a rule, the first time after a stroke, a person experiences problems with memory, coordination of movements, and speech. There is no escape from this. But with proper compliance with all medical prescriptions, diet and independent exercise after discharge, it is quite possible to completely eradicate all the consequences. In this matter, everything depends on the patient’s desire to fully recover. Not just lie and want, but want and do. And, of course, age plays a big role. The younger the patient, the higher the likelihood of a speedy and completely complete recovery.

In any situation, only the attending physician can give a more specific prognosis.

Recovery after a stroke

A stroke impairs the mind and for this reason there is a danger of complete loss of the ability to work and live independently, which for many people is worse than death.

Therefore, having suffered a stroke, many become depressed, believing that the body cannot be restored. In this matter, much depends on the doctors and the patient’s relatives, who are obliged to do everything possible and impossible so that the victim begins to believe in himself and his strength. The patient should not think about anything other than recovery and recovery.

People who have had a stroke may often complain of severe dizziness. If such an unpleasant feeling persists even after discharge from the hospital, there is no need to remain silent about it. Be sure to get qualified medical advice on this issue. Remember that drug treatment alone will not work in this situation. Turn to traditional medicine, check with your doctor first.

It should be noted that stroke is getting younger. Now not only the elderly, but also young people suffer from this diagnosis. It’s good that a stroke in a child is an extremely rare case and rather out of the ordinary.

Stroke Prevention

• First of all, you need to strictly monitor your blood pressure and not allow it to increase above 140 to 90.
• Refuse from harmful habits. Life is more valuable than fleeting joys. And you can relieve stress in other ways.
• Normalize blood cholesterol levels.
• Switch to healthy foods and proper nutrition.
• Eliminate stress from your life. Move to a calmer position, make peace with your relatives. Stress is a faithful ally of all serious illnesses.
• When diabetes It is necessary to monitor glucose levels daily. The strength of the walls of blood vessels depends on it.
• Periodically take medications that thin the blood.
• Use traditional medicine to prevent the development of the disease.
• Play sports. It is permissible to engage in any sport that your physical fitness and doctor’s orders allow.

Products that are listed in folk medicine as the best guardians against stroke:

1. Ginger root. You can simply add it to tea instead of lemon.
2. Any citrus fruit contains vitamin C, which thins the blood well.
3. Infusion of fir cones.
4. Kombucha.
5. Any nuts.
6. Foods rich in fatty acids - red fish, linseed oil.
7. A mixture of mint and lemon balm, brewed with boiling water.
8. Strawberry leaf.
9. Rosehip.
10. Turmeric.
11. Honey and cinnamon.

Life after a stroke

Remember that a positive morale and support from loved ones is a 50% guarantee of a successful outcome.

The problem of life expectancy in people who have suffered a stroke worries everyone - both patients and their relatives. Undoubtedly, no doctor, even the most expensive one, can give an accurate prognosis, but there are approximate statistics.

The most unsafe period is immediately after a stroke. During this period, there is a high risk of secondary hemorrhage and the formation of consequences that can cause death. The mind is currently adapting to the changes that have occurred and strives to use the surviving zones. A stroke can affect essential functions like breathing control.

Whether the body will be able to overcome the disease and whether complications will begin to develop is determined by the initial 2-3 months. Having survived this dangerous time, patients then live happily ever after.

The next significant period is 12 months. It would seem that complete recovery has occurred, but suddenly a secondary shock or the sudden appearance of complications, stimulated by the initial attack, overtakes.

After a year, the threat of death due to a secondary stroke or brain damage caused by the initial one quickly passes. However, you should not rest - disease prevention, proper nutrition and complete rejection of bad habits must be the patient’s traveling companions for life.