There is a disease worldwide that has a high incidence, mortality rate, disability rate, and recurrence rate, causing over 5.5 million deaths every year. That disease is stroke. In recent years, there has been a trend of stroke occurring at younger ages. Today, Health Headlines will discuss this extremely dangerous disease.
Stroke, commonly known as cerebrovascular accident, is divided into ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. Ischemic stroke, also known as cerebral infarction, refers to insufficient blood supply to the brain and necrosis of brain tissue caused by narrowing or occlusion of cerebral arteries. Hemorrhagic stroke refers to brain tissue damage caused by cerebral blood vessel rupture. There are usually three categories of factors that can trigger a stroke. The first category is disease-related factors, such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and genetics. The second category is behavioral factors, including poor dietary habits, excessive fatigue, and so on. The third category is environmental factors, such as air pollution. During a stroke, approximately 120 million brain cells die every hour. Even with treatment, varying degrees of brain dysfunction can occur. However, stroke does not occur without warning signs. Patients often experience symptoms of “transient ischemic attack” 7 to 90 days before a stroke, commonly known as a mini-stroke. If identified and intervened in a timely manner, the risk of stroke can be effectively reduced. Next, we will introduce a “120 identification rule.”
“1” refers to “seeing one side of the face being asymmetric.” Before a stroke occurs, patients may exhibit symptoms such as facial deviation and facial paralysis due to impaired brain function and declining facial nerve conduction capacity. “2” refers to “unilateral weakness in both arms.” This phenomenon is common in over 70% of stroke cases and is caused by damage to the intracranial motor nerves. “0” refers to “listening to speech clarity.” Brain vascular damage can impair the patient’s speech center, leading to unclear speech. Once these three symptoms appear, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately. The “120 three-step identification method” is of great significance in reducing prehospital delay time for stroke patients, reducing disability and mortality rates, and improving prognosis. Please keep it in mind.
Finally, let’s share some methods to protect cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health and reduce the risk of stroke. Firstly, maintain a balanced diet, striving for low-sugar, low-oil, and low-salt dietary habits to prevent the occurrence of stroke risk factors such as hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Secondly, quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption. Nicotine in tobacco causes blood vessel constriction, making platelets more likely to aggregate into blood clots, thereby increasing the risk of vessel blockage. Consuming 280 grams of alcohol per week increases the risk of stroke by 35%. Additionally, maintain a healthy weight and develop a habit of regular exercise. Keeping the BMI between 18 and 24 significantly reduces the risk of stroke. Engaging in 150 to 300 minutes of aerobic exercise per week can accelerate metabolism and enhance vascular elasticity. Finally, it is important to note that strokes have a certain time pattern, with a higher likelihood of occurrence during colder seasons and around noon each day. Friends with a history of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases should remain vigilant.