Remember 5 signs of stroke to protect your loved ones!

But first, let’s define the term. A stroke is an acute disruption of blood circulation in the brain. Since nerve cells are very sensitive to oxygen starvation, their mass death begins. Depending on the affected area, the manifestations of stroke also change.

Remember the first 5 signs of a stroke, if at least one of them is present, you need to urgently call an ambulance:

1) Sudden speech impairment, similar to alcoholic intoxication or talking with food in your mouth. Words are confused, the person «mumbles» 2) Sudden facial asymmetry, for example, a skewed mouth or eye on one side 3) Sudden dizziness, the person falls 4) Sudden deterioration of vision, the victim may not react to your movements 5) Paralysis or numbness of the limbs, usually also only on one side of the body

Ask the victim to raise their hands or smile — a person with a stroke will not be able to do this.

Qualified help within the first 4.5 significantly increases the likelihood that the person will recover and return to normal life.

About 90% of all strokes are associated with the following risk factors:

— high blood pressure — high cholesterol levels in the blood — unhealthy diet — heart disease, especially arrhythmias — diabetes — obesity — alcohol abuse — low physical activity

What types of strokes are there?

There are only two — hemorrhagic and ischemic. They are both incredibly dangerous, but have differences in the mechanism of appearance.

Hemorrhagic — occurs when a vessel in the brain bursts, and blood pours out of it into the cranial box. More dangerous than ischemic, as it not only disrupts blood flow, but also additionally affects the brain. Blood accumulates in the skull, it has nowhere to go from the closed space, so the pressure inside grows and compresses the brain. In addition, a widespread inflammatory process begins. Only a neurosurgeon can help such a patient in the shortest possible time.

Ischemic — occurs when a thrombus or other obstacle blocks a vessel in the brain and stops blood flow. Oxygen starvation begins and the gradual death of nerve cells. The faster special drugs that dissolve the thrombus are introduced at this stage, the more chances to save a person.

Elderly people are at particular risk. Do not ignore your relatives’ complaints about headaches, make sure that blood pressure does not exceed 140/100 mm Hg. Art.