Stroke, commonly known as cerebral infarction or embolism, is a cerebrovascular disease. It occurs due to a rupture or obstruction in a blood vessel, reducing blood flow to the brain. As the necessary amount of blood does not reach the brain, the nerve cells do not receive oxygen and stop functioning.
How to detect stroke
Some symptoms that we can detect through small gestures are:
- TALK: do you have difficulty speaking?
- SMILE: is your mouth twisted?
- WALK: have you lost stability?
- LOOK AT ME: can you see well?
- RAISE YOUR ARMS: can you move both arms well?
Preventing stroke
Some gestures that we can do on a daily basis and that have an impact on our general health and on the prevention of a stroke are:
- Eating a balanced Mediterranean diet
- Exercise moderately: walk daily for 30-60 minutes
- Do not smoke
- Moderate alcohol consumption
- Increase cognitive reserve: it is always time to learn.
- Control blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and weight.
What happens after stroke
Some of the situations that occur when a person has suffered a stroke are:
- Physical difficulties
- Perceptual disturbances
- Language impairment
- Cognitive and mood disturbances
- Loss of autonomy for activities of daily living.
- Impact on family, social and work environments.
Treatment after stroke: Neurorehabilitation
Neurorehabilitation is a medical process that includes a set of methods aimed at recovering the neurological functions lost or diminished as a result of brain or spinal cord damage. In patients who have suffered a stroke, neurorehabilitation methods take advantage of brain plasticity to improve or normalize neurological and functional deficits.
Neurology specialists advise taking into account some important considerations regarding neurorehabilitation:
- Timing is important: start before six months.
- Personalized treatment according to the patient’s needs.
- Professional and multidisciplinary team.
- Sometimes prevention is not enough, treatment is the way.