Even though it’s common, stroke is frequently misunderstood. Here, Helicopteros Sanitarios GP doctor explains some of the myths and when to call our doctor emergency at home in Manilva in case of a stroke.
1. Stroke symptoms can be challenging to identify
F.A.S.T. is an acronym that describes the most common stroke symptoms, which are as follows:
- F: face dropping, a condition in which one side of the face becomes numb and produces an uneven "smile"
- A: arm weakness, which occurs when one arm loses strength or sensation and, when raised, gradually moves downward.
- S: speech impediment, also known as slurred speech
- T: time to call emergency now.
These are some additional signs of a stroke:
- symptoms of numbness or weakness on one side of the body, including the face, arm, or leg
- confusion, as well as difficulty understanding or speaking the language
- vision problems in either one eye or both of them
- walking is difficult for the patient, and they may experience dizziness, loss of balance, or coordination issues.
- severe headaches for which there is no apparent reason
2. Stroke always causes paralysis
Stroke is one of the leading causes of permanent disability; however, not everyone who has a stroke will also experience paralysis or weakness after the event. According to research conducted on stroke survivors aged 65 and older, impaired mobility affects more than half of these patients.
The long-term effects of a stroke, on the other hand, can be quite variable depending on a number of factors, such as the volume of brain tissue that is damaged and the geographic region that is impacted. For instance, injuries to the left side of the brain will manifest as symptoms on the right side of the body, and vice versa.
3. Having a stroke is not something that can be avoided
Hypertension, smoking, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, trauma to the head or neck, and cardiac arrhythmias are some of the most prevalent risk factors for stroke.
The lifestyle choices we make can alter many of these risk factors. Regular exercise and a healthy diet can lower risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes.
Stress and alcohol use are additional risk factors. Striking out to lessen or get rid of these lifestyle elements may also lower a person's risk of stroke.
4. Stroke is a heart condition
Strokes occur in the brain rather than the heart, despite the fact that the risk of having a stroke is linked to factors that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Some people get the two conditions confused, but a heart attack is caused by a blockage in the blood flow to the heart, while a stroke is caused by a blockage in the blood flow to the brain.
5. There are no genetic links to stroke
A person's risk for stroke is increased by single-gene diseases like sickle cell disease.
The risk of stroke may be indirectly increased by genetic factors, such as a higher risk for high blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors.
Because it is common for members of the same family to share environments and ways of life, unhealthy lifestyle factors are likely to increase the risk of stroke among members of the same family, particularly when combined with genetic risk factors.
6. Stroke can’t be treated
It is possible to reverse the symptoms of a stroke in many patients through emergency treatment with an injection of a clot-busting drug, a minimally invasive mechanical thrombectomy for clot removal, or surgery. This is especially true for patients who arrive at the hospital early enough for the therapy (within minutes or hours of the onset of the symptoms).
7. All strokes have symptoms
Strokes do not always come with the symptoms that are commonly associated with them, and some research indicates that symptom-free strokes are far more common than those that do have symptoms.
According to the findings of one study, only 770,000 of the over 11 million strokes that occurred in 1998 exhibited symptoms, while the remaining close to 11 million were asymptomatic.
Even though there are no symptoms associated with them, they should be treated in the same manner as strokes that do have symptoms. People who have silent strokes are at an increased risk of having symptomatic strokes in the future, as well as cognitive decline and dementia.
8. Only older people are at risk for stroke
Age is a major contributor to the risk of having a stroke. Stroke risk doubles every 10 years after age 55. However, strokes can happen to people of any age.
9. Stroke recovery is quick
The road to recovery after a stroke can take weeks, months, or even years. On the other hand, it's possible that many won't fully recover. According to research, there is a critical time window between two and three months after the onset of a stroke, during which participating in intensive motor rehabilitation has a greater chance of leading to recovery. After this period of time has passed, specifically after the six-month mark, further improvements are still theoretically possible, albeit at a much more glacial pace.
10. A ministroke is not so risky
Some people have misunderstood the meaning of the term "ministroke," believing that it refers to less severe strokes that are associated with a lower risk. This statement is not accurate because a transient ischemic attack, also known as a ministroke, is a TIA.
This is not a minor stroke; rather, it is a warning that a more serious stroke may be imminent. Any symptom of an acute stroke, regardless of whether it is temporary or persistent, requires emergency evaluation and treatment in order to reduce the risk of a devastating large stroke.
Doctor emergency at home in Manilva
Call our doctor emergency at home’s phone number without delay if you experience any of the following major warning signs for a stroke:
- A sudden feeling of weakness or numbness in the face, arm, or leg, more often than not localised to one side of the body.
- Having sudden trouble seeing out of one or both of your eyes.
- Confusion, sudden difficulty speaking, or difficulty understanding what is being said.