Health: How to recognize a stroke?

Only one in ten people claim to know the symptoms of a stroke. Nevertheless, a stroke is the main cause of mortality in women (and the third highest in men). To add more cause for concern, the attack is increasingly affecting more young people – a quarter of patients are less than 65 years old. Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA) is also the main cause of adult disability (memory disorders, depression, mobility issues, partial paralysis). Fast diagnosis and treatment will increase the chance of survival and limits the aftereffects.

WHAT IS A STROKE?

Still referred to as “an attack”, a stroke occurs as the result of the cut-off of blood circulation to or in the brain. This can be caused by a ruptured blood vessel (hemorrhagic accident) or obstruction (ischemic accident). Sometimes, the vessel unblocks on its own and the symptoms subside within seconds or minutes. This may be an ischemic accident, which must not be ignored as it can be a warning of a future stroke.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF A STROKE?

– A deformation of the mouth

Eg: when the person smiles, the mouth is not symmetrical.

– A weakness on one side of the body, in the arm or the leg

Eg: the person cannot raise both arms in front of them and keep them raised.

– Speech disorders

Eg: when asked to repeat a sentence, the person has difficulty speaking or understanding.

Conversely, the patient feels no pain in the chest, arm or back, can happen in the case of an infarction. He/she neither falls down, nor faints.

HOW TO REACT?

Call the emergency medical service and clarify that a stroke is suspected. The faster treatment is administered, the greater the chance of survival. We consider that doctors have about 4 hours to unblock the affected vessel. However, the quicker the patient is treated, the less likely they are to suffer aftereffects – in every second, thousands of neurons are destroyed.

Source: Ministry of Health

Maureen Diament