You’ve probably heard the term stroke before. Given that they affect more than a million people each year, in India alone, almost everyone knows someone who has been affected by a stroke. There are two types of strokes: the first is known as ischemic stroke: this is when a blocked artery cuts off blood supply to a portion of the brain. It occurs when the blood vessels leading to the brain get blocked by broken down blood clots or by fatty deposits that travel through the bloodstream and get lodged in the brain’s blood vessels. More than 80% of all strokes are of this type. The other type of stroke is known as hemorrhagic stroke. This occurs when a blood vessel bursts or leaks. When this happens, blood spills into the brain’s tissue.

Hemorrhagic strokes can be caused by a number of issues, including:

• Untreated High BP
• Overuse of anticoagulants, i.e. blood thinners
• Aneurysms—these are weak/bulgy spots in the walls of blood vessels
• Protein deposits on the walls of blood vessels. This causes the blood vessel walls to weaken, leading to strokes.
• Ischemic stroke that leads to hemorrhagic stroke

Risk Factors

Strokes can happen to anyone, but some factors increase your risk, and some lower the risk. The main risk factors are:

• Age: Your risk factor is higher if you’re 55 or older,
• Sex: Males are at higher risk of strokes than women
• Genetics: if you have a family history of strokes, you could be more susceptible
• Lifestyle: If you’re a smoker, consume alcohol excessively, physically inactive, you are at a higher risk level
• Medical problems: If you suffer from poorly controlled diabetes, have obstructive sleep apnea or heart disease, your risk of suffering a stroke is higher

Symptoms

Strokes are not symptomless, if you’re not sure if someone you know—or you, yourself—is having a stroke, watch out for the following signs:

Trouble speaking: or comprehending what someone else is saying. Slurred speech, confusion, and difficulty in understanding someone else are common symptoms.

Numbness: in the face, arm, leg, or a complete side of the body. You could develop sudden numbness in your face or an arm or leg. Usually, strokes affect one side of the body. You can check if you’re suffering a stroke by trying to raise both arms over your head. If one arm begins to fall, it could be a stroke. Another test is to smile; if your mouth droops on one side, it could be a stroke.

Vision problems in one or both eyes. This could be blurry vision, double vision, or black patches in your field of vision.

Imbalance: Trouble maintaining balance or walking. Stumbling, sudden dizziness, and loss of coordination, are all signs of a possible stroke.

Severe headaches: Stroke headaches occur suddenly and are so severe they can induce vomiting. The above symptoms may come and go, but even if they do disappear completely, you must seek medical treatment immediately. Don’t wait to see if the symptoms come back or stop… every minute is critical.

The Golden Hour

Recognizing signs of a stroke and acting speedily can make all the difference. And the most important period is what medical professionals call the “Golden Hour”. This is the first 4.5 hours when a stroke strikes, and it can make all the difference in the treatment of the patient. The reason the first 4.5 hours is described as golden is that quick medical action—for instance, treatment with a clot-dissolving drug—during this period gives stroke patients a much greater chance of surviving and avoiding long-term brain damage. That’s why it is so important to recognize the signs of stroke and know what to do when someone is having a stroke. This knowledge can literally save a person\'s life and help them avoid brain damage. So, if you think someone is having a stroke, the absolute first thing to do is call medical emergency. Remember, each minute the stroke goes untreated the patient loses millions of neurons. An hour can cause damage equal to about three-and-a-half years of normal aging.

Complications

Strokes can cause temporary or permanent disabilities, depending on the affected part, and the length of time that brain did not receive proper blood supply. Common complications include: Paralysis or unstable muscle movement. Strokes can lead to paralysis on one side of the body. Patients can experience loss of control of some muscles, for e.g. muscles on one side of the face or an arm.

Difficulty speaking or in swallowing: The muscles of the mouth and throat can get affected after a stroke, which will impair the ability to speak clearly, swallow or even eat. Some people experience language difficulties too, including speaking or understanding, reading, and/or writing.

Memory loss or impaired cognitive abilities: People who have suffered strokes can experience some loss of memory. Some may have difficulty performing reasoning tasks, making judgments or understanding concepts.

Emotional problems: Difficulty in controlling their emotions is another characteristic post-stroke problem. This can also lead to depression. It is common for people who have suffered strokes to withdraw emotionally. Loss of independence can badly affect their sense of self. Especially those who earlier prided themselves on their independence.

Pain: If a stroke causes loss of feeling in an arm, one can develop uncomfortable sensations in that arm. Patients may also experience pain or numbness or in the areas affected by stroke. For instance, if a stroke causes the loss of feeling in the right arm, it could lead to uncomfortable tingling sensations in the same arm.

Takeaways

Time lost is life lost. Strokes claim millions of lives around the world each year. And leave millions suffering with lives diminished by lack of movement, and loss of strength—physical, mental, and emotional. A lot of this can be avoided simply by acting quickly. So, it is essential to recognize the signs of a stroke. If you or someone in front of you exhibits signs like slurred speech, imbalance, difficulty comprehending speech, or numbness in any part of their body, don’t lose a minute. The first 4.5 hours after stroke attacks—aka, the golden hour—is critical to the treatment and subsequent rehabilitation of anyone suffering from a stroke.