The cases of Brain Stroke are increasing with every passing day world over, of course with an alarming pace in our country. Earlier it was predominantly restricted to persons above 50 years, but the young population is joining the fold rather more rapidly in good numbers basically due to lifestyle aberrations. It is sad to note that many brain stroke patients are forced to die or live a life of disability due to lack of awareness in observing the signs and symptoms of stroke attack resulting in over delayed medical intervention. Data shows that more than 1.8 million Indians suffer from brain stroke annually.
The brain stroke occurs when the normal blood flow to the brain is disrupted and normal brain functioning is disturbed due to lack of oxygen and other nutrients which results in serious damage to the cells and tissues. It happens either due to blood clot in any of the brain nerves or due to bursting of the pulse. So, a brain stroke is termed as a medical emergency as every minute a stroke patient gets untreated, he is likely to lose as many as 1.9 million neurons and hence must be addressed likewise. Data says that 87% of stroke cases occur due to blood clot in the pulse which can be treated well and fast.
According to neurologists the emergency treatment is absolutely necessary to avoid irreversible damage of brain tissues. Ideally, sixty minutes or less time from stroke point to proper medical intervention is better for the patient’s fast recovery. In medical parlance, the duration of 4.5 hours is termed a golden hour during which the patient should be diagnosed thoroughly and a blood clot-busting drug administered to avoid serious and long term damage to the brain and to ensure survival of the patient greatly.
It is noteworthy that the brain stroke can cause a number of problems to the patient depending on the area and side of the cerebrum affected by the attack. The body functions like speaking, eating, seeing, thinking, laughing, walking, self-caring and many more can be mildly or seriously impaired.
The main causes of brain stroke include high blood pressure, high bad cholesterol (LDL), diabetes, depression, high stress level, smoking and drinking alcohol.
The main symptoms of stroke are loss of physical balance, weakness or numbness in the arms, legs or face, sudden problem of eye sight in one or both the eyes, trouble smiling, talking and raising hands (STR Factor)
Now the pertinent questions are how to avoid getting brain stroke by taking precautionary measures and if at all suffer from stroke, what are the medical remedies? In order to ward off the chances of stroke, we must practise a balanced lifestyle very sincerely. This includes physical exercise, yoga and meditation, good sleep of 7-8 hours in the night, managing our stress level, trying to stay positive and happy, remaining adequately hydrated, and taking nutritious food items full of seasonal fruits and vegetables. Undoubtedly, the treatment of brain stroke is very effective, if the patient is rushed to the neurologist or the nearest hospital quickly for earliest medical intervention. It is true that in some serious cases or cases where medical intervention is delayed for whatever reasons, the recovery is slow, but it is sure in most of the cases. Yes, the prescription of the attending doctor must be followed sincerely in all cases for better recovery.
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