Stroke, (think F.A.S.T)

Stroke is a life threatening condition, which requires urgent treatment, getting help soon can reduce damage it can cause to some organs in the body. Stroke occurs when there is a cut-off of blood supply to the brain, which affect the brain function leading to brain injury, disability and possibly lead to death.

When you suspect someone around you has had a stroke, assess the status to be able to explain to health professionals, the sooner the person has a prompt medical attention, the more chances of recovering from the event with less disability, don’t delay, seek for help immediately because it requires urgent attention to save a life and not to cause damages to some delicate organs in the body. Someone who is having a stroke may show one or more of the following signs and symptoms.

Sign and symptoms of Stroke

The signs and symptoms of stroke can be represented with acronyms called FAST:

• F: Face = if you or someone around you notice abnormality on your face dropping to one side and you are not able to smile, or if your mouth or eye have dropped. Seek for help immediately.
• A: Arms= anyone suspected with stroke may not be able to lift up both arms, or you feel numbness in your arm and the arm drifts down.
• S: Speech= Anyone who suspect that their speech is unclear or twisted or not able to talk at all should seek for urgent help or if you notice someone around you not able to talk clearly, act fast by seeking for immediate medical help.
• T: Time = Time to call for medical attention immediately if you experience any of the signs and symptoms, do not delay or try to use home remedy before seeking for help.

How to prevent a stroke

Stroke can be prevented through healthy lifestyles, such as:

• Healthy diet: Eating a healthy balanced diet is an important part of maintaining good health and it can help you feel great within yourself, eating a variety of foods in right proportions and drink can help you achieve and maintain healthy body weight including having five a day nourish fruits and vegetables. Eating healthy diet, fruits and vegetable lower the risk of diseases, which can lead to stroke or any other terminal diseases.
• Regular exercise: Having regular exercise can control the weight and combats health conditions. People who engage in regular activity have a lower risk of developing chronic diseases.
• Reduce alcohol intake: Too much of alcohol can cause liver damage and other life threatening diseases like heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular conditions.
• Avoid smoking: Smokers are liable to die young.  smoking is dangerous to health. People who are not smoking stand a better chance of not developing terminal ailments or long term conditions; people that smoke are at risk of developing long-term conditions.

Advice

Don’t joke with your health, health is wealth, if you notice any unusual signs or symptoms do not overlook because it may be sign of terminal conditions.

Don’t ignore, act fast, if you experience any signs mentioned above.

It is Important to know your health letters BBBC as earlier discussed in the previous newsletter, which are

• Blood pressure
• Body mass index (BMI)
• Blood sugar and
• Cholesterol

Checking the above regularly can help you monitor your health condition and makes you aware of any disease before it turns to major condition.

Being overweight, smoking, lack of exercise and poor diet can be major risk factors for stroke. If you have the habit of smoking and poor lifestyle in general can lead to terminal conditions, which can affect your life.

Treating stroke is not an easy task, it is good to rather prevent it than having to cure it because it can less be cure but can be managed.  

The easiest way to get daily exercise is by walking or cycling instead of driving to go around places as the more we walk and cycle, the more active we will be and the more healthier the body and the heart.

Life after stroke can be difficult, some people need to have long period of rehabilitation before they can recover while some will never recover resulting to needing support to adjust to living with the effect of the condition. Some can be on medications for life.

So beware, have good lifestyles and enjoy your life!!!

Reference:

NHS Choices