What is a stroke? Causes, recognition and prevention
Stroke, or cerebrovascular accident, is the leading cause of death worldwide, with one death every three minutes. It occurs when the brain is not supplied with enough blood, leading to serious damage. This article will introduce stroke, from causes, signs to prevention.
1. What is a stroke?
A stroke, or cerebrovascular accident, occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted or significantly reduced. This results in a lack of oxygen and nutrients to brain cells, which can cause cell damage and death. Without prompt treatment, a stroke can lead to death or sequelae such as paralysis, loss of speech, and emotional disturbances.
2. Causes of stroke
Causes of stroke include ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. Ischemic stroke accounts for about 85% of all cases and is caused by a blood clot blocking an artery. Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel to the brain ruptures, causing massive bleeding. Factors such as age, gender, family history, race, and medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure also increase the risk of stroke.
3. Signs of stroke
Signs of a stroke can come and go quickly and include:
Body fatigue, facial or half facial numbness.
Difficulty or inability to move one side of the body, partial paralysis.
Difficulty in pronunciation, unclear speech, stuck words.
Dizziness, lightheadedness, sudden loss of balance.
Decreased vision, blurred vision.
Severe headache, which may cause nausea or vomiting.
3. How to prevent stroke
Proper nutrition: Diet is an important factor in determining the risk of stroke. Eating lots of vegetables, fruits, protein-rich foods such as white meat and seafood, and limiting foods containing fat and sugar can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Exercise daily : Regular exercise helps improve blood circulation, improve heart health and reduce the risk of stroke. Exercising at least 30 minutes a day, 4 times a week can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Keep warm : Cold exposure can increase blood pressure and blood pressure, causing damage to blood vessels. Keeping warm, especially in older people during the changing seasons, can reduce the risk of stroke.
Don't smoke : Smoking increases your risk of stroke. Quitting smoking for 2 to 5 years can reduce your risk of stroke to that of a nonsmoker.
Regular health check-ups : Regular health check-ups help detect stroke-causing factors early and provide timely intervention.
In summary, through diet, exercise, keeping warm, not smoking, and regular health check-ups, one can reduce the risk of stroke and protect cardiovascular health. Listen to your body and take the initiative to take care of your health to face this challenge.