Prevent it before it comes…

A 50-year-old man came for treatment a few months ago. He does not have diabetes or hypertension. No bad habits like cigarettes and alcohol. One morning he woke up unable to speak, unable to move his right arm or leg. The mouth was crooked on one side. 

They immediately brought him to the hospital. A scan revealed a blockage in the blood vessels on the left side of his brain, resulting in a stroke. Around 30 million people worldwide are currently affected by stroke. A stroke strikes a person in six seconds. 30 percent of those people die on the day of the stroke. Heart attacks are the number one cause of death in the world. 

The second major disease is stroke. Statistics show that the loss due to stroke ranges from 5.7 million to 7.8 million, and this number is expected to increase by 2030. Out of which 87 percent of stroke cases mostly affect people living in the middle and below poverty line. 

Studies also show that the percentage of people living dependent on others who are disabled by stroke will increase from 50 to 60 by 2030. It is a regrettable fact that stroke, which mostly affects the elderly in India, has now increased from 5 percent to 10 percent in the age group of 30 to 69 years. A stroke is damage to the blood vessels in the brain. In Tamil we say this as stroke. 

Most (80 percent) of the stroke patients we see have paralysis of one arm and one leg, hence the name stroke in Tamil. The structure of our brain is such that the left brain controls the right side of the body and the right brain controls the left side of the face, arms and legs. 

That is why he was unable to move his right arm and leg, and the scan showed that he had damage to the left side of his brain and a blockage in the blood vessels in it. Blockage of blood flow to the heart is called a heart attack. Similarly, the interruption of blood flow to the brain is called stroke. Strokes are of two types. 

The first type is caused by a blood vessel blockage; The second type is caused by rupture of a blood vessel and subsequent hemorrhage. The first type is caused by fatty deposits in the blood vessels in the brain that gradually block the blood vessels and block blood flow. Let’s call this as ischemic stroke. The second type, It is caused by bursting of a blood vessel in the brain and bleeding in the lining of the brain. This is called Haemorragic stroke. 

This is due to high blood pressure and bursting of blood vessels. Of these two types, 80 to 85 percent of strokes are due to occlusion of blood vessels, and the remaining 15-20 percent are strokes due to leakage of blood vessels. The causes of stroke in these two types are different. And the treatment methods for these two types of stroke are completely different. 

The causes of stroke can be broadly classified into non-modifiable and modifiable factors. Of these two types, 80 to 85 percent of strokes are due to occlusion of blood vessels, and the remaining 15-20 percent are strokes due to leakage of blood vessels. The causes of stroke in these two types are different. And the treatment methods for these two types of stroke are completely different. 

The causes of stroke can be broadly classified into non-modifiable and modifiable factors. Of these two types, 80 to 85 percent of strokes are due to occlusion of blood vessels, and the remaining 15-20 percent are strokes due to leakage of blood vessels. The causes of stroke in these two types are different. And the treatment methods for these two types of stroke are completely different. The causes of stroke can be broadly classified into non-modifiable and modifiable factors.

Unchangeable * Age* Sex* Genetically Modifiable * Smoking* Alcohol, Drug Addiction* Blood Pressure* Diabetes* Hyperlipidemia* Heart Disease* Obesity* Joint Tissue Diseases* Kidney Disorder* Meningitis* Lifestyle Change/Mental Pressure Let us understand these two factors in a little more detail. 

Nonmodifiable Factors Strokes mostly affect men. This is because women have a protective ring called the menstrual cycle. And men are mostly addicted to evil habits. Work load and stress are also more for men. 

ageAs we age, our skin shrinks, our hair turns gray, and certain changes (thickening, fatty deposits) occur in our blood vessels, making us more prone to stroke. 

Genetic mutation is the underlying cause of many human diseases. Studies suggest that stroke can also be caused by a genetic mutation. But this happens in a very small percentage. 

Modifiable factorsBlood sugar levels should be less than 100mg/dl before meals and less than 160mg/dl after meals. Similarly, the three-month average blood sugar level should be less than 6.5 percent. Simple steps to prevent stroke include keeping blood pressure below 140/90 and cholesterol levels, especially LDL (bad cholesterol) below 100mg/dl. Avoiding smoking and alcohol, taking care not to gain weight, taking proper medication for heart disorders, taking the right pills for thyroid disorders, restful sleep and a controlled lifestyle can prevent stroke. 

Stroke symptoms* Paralysis of arm and leg on one side* Paralysis of elbow and arm on one side* Inability to speak* Paralysis of face and arm only on one side* Inability to understand and speak* Sudden loss of sensation in arms and legs on one side* Sudden staggering in gait* Sudden dizziness, vomiting, hiccups, burping while eating * Sudden loss of memory * Sudden blindness, complete inability to see. In this way, blockage of brain blood vessels can be manifested in many ways. 

But often we only see loss of function in one side of the limb. Each part of our brain is uniquely functional. The forebrain is used for thinking and action. For hindbrain vision; The superior brain is uniquely responsible for understanding emotions and the inferior brain for memory and hearing. Any blockage in the blood vessel leading to any of these areas is called a stroke. So the manifestation of stroke is different. He is a 55 year old bank manager. 

He has diabetes and smokes cigarettes occasionally, suddenly one morning when he woke up he felt dizzy, vomited, couldn’t sit, couldn’t stand, pushed to left side when he tried to stand. He was immediately admitted to the hospital. On examination he was able to move his arms and legs. But even when standing or walking he leaned to the left side. When asked to touch his nose with the index finger of his left hand he managed to fumble. 

At the same time, when asked to touch his nose with his right index finger, he was able to touch it easily. We call this disorder in English as Ataxia. The main reason for this is a blockage in the blood vessels leading to the left cerebellum. So it is important to understand that dizziness and confusion can also be a manifestation of stroke. Blood flow to our brain is carried from the heart through blood vessels and can be divided into two parts. 

The blood flow to the anterior brain is classified as the carotid system and the blood flow to the posterior brain is classified as the vertebrobasilar system. There are mainly 10 blood vessels in the brain. All these go from the heart through the neck to the brain and to the parts of the brain which are divided into many branches. They also carry blood to the eyes. Obstruction in the hindbrain can cause all of the above-mentioned fainting, vomiting, confusion, and amnesia. Also able to move limbs but clumsiness, amnesia predominates. This is called a posterior circulation stroke.

Normally, the blood in the blood vessels in our body remains liquid. Fat accumulates in these blood vessels and causes a blockage, causing a stroke. In order to protect ourselves from bleeding if we are injured, we have cells that increase the clotting ability of the blood. 

Let’s call it plates. Damage to these cells and changes in blood clotting also increase the chances of blockage in the blood vessels. The language center for understanding and speaking is mostly located in our left brain. Due to this, if there is a blockage in the left side of the brain, not only the right arm and leg will be disabled, but the ability to understand and speak will also be lost. 

In English we call it Aphasia. At the same time, if there is a blockage in the right side of the brain, the left arm and leg will lose function, but there will be no disturbance in the ability to speak and understand. Therefore, where the blood flow to any part of the brain is obstructed, only the specific performance of that part is affected. In English we call it Aphasia. 

At the same time, if there is a blockage in the right side of the brain, the left arm and leg will lose function, but there will be no disturbance in the ability to speak and understand. Therefore, where the blood flow to any part of the brain is obstructed, only the specific performance of that part is affected. In English we call it Aphasia. 

At the same time, if there is a blockage in the right side of the brain, the left arm and leg will lose function, but there will be no disturbance in the ability to speak and understand. Therefore, where the blood flow to any part of the brain is obstructed, only the specific performance of that part is affected.