Stroke – Symptoms and Effects

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When he came to the hospital with a terrible headache, the doctor sent him home with a diagnosis of “alcohol poisoning” after having drunk three beers the day before. Then it turned out that Maciek, 36, had a stroke.

His head ached like never before. He sat with his eyes closed because he was dizzy (the first symptoms of a stroke). When the wife called an ambulance, the paramedic disparagingly commented that if the head hurts, an ambulance is not called, but takes a painkiller and goes to the doctor. In the emergency room, he was throwing up all the time. The doctor measured his blood pressure and asked if he might have poisoned himself. He said he was at the grill the day before, eating sausage and drinking three beers. The doctor told me to go home. The diagnosis on discharge from the hospital was: alcohol poisoning. Since the headache persisted, he went to a private appointment with a neurologist. This immediately ordered an MRI. It turned out to be a stroke.

Symptoms of a stroke

– For an experienced neurologist it is not a problem to recognize the symptoms of a stroke that something is happening in the central nervous system. It could be a stroke or it could be a brain tumor. Therefore, in such a situation, head tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is performed – says Dr. Adam Kobayashi from the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology in Warsaw. Although it should not be difficult for a doctor to diagnose a stroke, a headache or tingling sensation in the arm or leg is so uncharacteristic that they can be ignored by medics. – Unfortunately, awareness of this problem is still very low. In hospitals, a patient with a headache or numb hand is usually not given priority. And the time it takes to help him is about four and a half hours Explains Dr. Kobayashi. A stroke is diagnosed based on the symptoms of the stroke and brain imaging tests. It is true that it is most common in people over the age of 60, but it also happens in young people. Therefore, any atypical, persistent headache requires diagnostics. It happens that the symptoms of a stroke are very unusual, but the most characteristic symptom is a drooping corner of the mouth, paresis of an arm or leg.

Check what a stroke looks like in children

Stroke diagnosis

‘But there are times when you don’t feel the symptoms of a stroke and it’s easier for someone else to spot them,’ explains Dr Kobayashi. He explains that if we suspect someone has a stroke, we can do a simple test. You have to ask the sick person to raise both hands in front of him. If he holds one higher than the other, chances are he has had a stroke and an ambulance needs to be called. You can also ask the sick person to squeeze his hand first with one hand and then with the other. The difference in the strength of oppression is also an indication for calling an ambulance. Also, if the patient is unable to touch his / her nose with his eyes closed, a stroke may be suspected. Speech disorders are also symptoms. The sick person may gibberish as if they were drunk. It also happens that he has trouble understanding what is said to him. – The problem with a stroke is that it doesn’t hurt. Unlike a heart attack, which manifests itself in severe pain, a stroke can be painless and therefore often not alarming. Meanwhile, every minute counts, warns Dr. Kobayashi.

Source: http://radioklinika.pl/

Brain hypoxia in ischemic stroke

In an ischemic stroke, all stroke symptoms are the result of a lack of oxygen in the brain. Most often it occurs as a result of clogging of the cerebral artery by a blood clot. The formation of clots may be the result of atherosclerosis. Atrial fibrillation also causes a clot to detach, which, like a stopper, blocks blood flow. The thrombus can be the size of a pinhead or a grain of rice. There are also several centimeters. Blood that transports oxygen to the brain stops reaching there, which results in the formation of necrosis of the ischemic area. Maciek had a narrowed carotid artery from birth, which of course he did not know. The artery was blocked by a very small clot, which made his head light-headed. Blood was reaching the brain, but much more slowly.

Also check: Can neglect teeth increase the risk of stroke?

The effects of a stroke

When Maciek heard the diagnosis, he couldn’t quite believe what had happened to him. He searched the Internet. He has read that after a stroke, a patient can lose the use of limbs, the ability to coordinate movements, stop speaking or see, and also lose the ability to understand speech. In many cases, a stroke is life-threatening. – Only 7 percent stroke patients can use the toilet without special amenities, 65% requires help with walking, and 29 percent. while eating – says prof. Zbigniew Gaciong – head of the Department and Clinic of Internal Diseases, Hypertension and Angiology at the Medical University of Warsaw. Maciek thanked God that he survived and avoided severe disability. He began his meeting with every friend by greeting: – Man, I had a stroke.

  1. For manual exercises after a stroke, you can use the Set of 3 4FIZJO finger training elastics.

Anticoagulants for stroke

– If ischemia is present, necrosis is not avoided. However, you can try to reduce its area. Therefore, the patient should be given anticoagulants as soon as possible. The simplest is aspirin. In the hospital, however, the patient receives stronger funds. Sometimes the drug is given by injection directly into the artery where the thrombus is located, explains Dr. Kobayashi. Maciek was given anticoagulants. It turned out that he had high cholesterol and high blood pressure. That is why he will take some medications for the rest of his life.

It turned out that aspirin has amazing properties. Check what

Mortality in stroke

Every year, about 30 die from a stroke. Poles. Every 6,5 minutes, someone in our country has a stroke. – The death rate in stroke is high, mainly because treatment is started too late. When someone has a toothache, they seek help even at 3 a.m. A stroke does not hurt and its symptoms are often ignored by patients, says Dr. Kobayashi.

Maciek did not ignore his symptoms of a stroke. The doctor did it. That’s why he called him. He recalled his visit to the hospital emergency department and said alcohol poisoning had turned out to be a stroke. The doctor apologized. But at the end he heard from the agitated Maciek not to ignore the symptoms, because one day he would kill someone.

Stroke prevention

Stroke prevention mainly consists of:

  1. physical activity,
  2. a diet low in animal fats,
  3. quitting cigarettes,
  4. blood pressure and cholesterol control.

It is also important to monitor and treat atrial fibrillation. – Every 6th person in the world will suffer a stroke, every 6 seconds someone will die of it and every 6 seconds someone’s quality of life will deteriorate. Therefore, let’s do everything we can to avoid a stroke, says Dr. Kobayashi. Maciek quit smoking and changed his diet. Zero hot dogs and pork. – Vegetables, olive oil, fish and poultry – that’s what I eat – he says. He also started going to the gym and playing basketball. When friends ask him why he took it up, he is responsible: man, I had a stroke.

Cherries, which contain complex coumarins, should also be included in the diet that reduces the risk of stroke. Freeze-dried fruit by weight is available on Medonet Market.

Also check:

  1. She woke up in a strange car and thought it was a kidnapping. The truth was different
  2. Monika’s body sensed the coming catastrophe. It started with a headache
  3. The silent killer – high blood pressure

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