Stroke is currently the leading cause of disability in the West and the second leading cause of death, affecting more than 15 million people each year. Despite the fact that 1 in 6 people will suffer a stroke in their lifetime, it remains an unknown disease for many people.
Ignorance of stroke is a worldwide alarm, since knowing the symptoms and protocols for action can save millions of lives, as confirmed by the expert neurologist Dr. Dávalos Errando: “Recognition of the symptoms and control of risk factors is often vital to treat this problem in time”.
On the occasion of World Stroke Day, we join health associations to disseminate information about this type of vascular accident, its warning signs and the laborious recovery that patients and their families must face.
With stroke, every second counts
When a cerebral hemorrhage occurs, millions of neurons die every minute, most of which will not regenerate.
As expert neurologist Dr. Dávalos points out, “The patient usually has no tools to alert others, so it is important to recognize the symptoms,” which, he adds, are: “the impossibility or difficulty in speaking, the deviation of the mouth and the loss of strength in the extremities on one side of the body.
Although strokes are more frequent in men and women over 60 years of age, it is necessary to be informed and always alert, as it can also affect younger patients.
Thus, as time goes by, the brain cells die and it is essential to see a neurologist as soon as possible in order to perform a CT scan to observe the affected area and apply intravenous drugs to dissolve the clot or remove it by means of a catheter. As described by neurologist Dr. Dávalos, it is very important that this intervention be performed within 6 hours of the onset of symptoms.
Surviving the stroke is the first step
After overcoming the stroke, the uphill climb of slow recovery begins, since strokes are the leading cause of serious sequelae in adults.
These sequelae, as described by the expert neurologist Dr. Soler Singla, will depend on the extent of the lesion and the point in the brain where it is located: “There are cases in which early treatment can leave the patient without any deficit. Other patients may be left with a strength deficit on one side of the body, with a sensitivity deficit, or with a speech or vision impairment, etc.”.
The expert also stresses the importance of the patient’s physical and speech therapy rehabilitation, with the help and support of family members and loved ones: “Recovery is always slow and the patient can recover up to two years after suffering the stroke,” concludes Dr. Soler”.