World Stroke Day is observed on October 29, annually to highlight the grave nature of stroke and raise awareness among the populace about prevention and treatment of this condition and guarantee better care and support for the survivors. This health event organises several campaigns across the globe stressing the need for education, screening, and other efforts to improve the damaging effects of stroke. World Stroke Day was first initiated in 2006 by the World Stroke Organization (WSO) and in the year 2010, WSO declared stroke as a public health emergency.
When a person had a stroke attack, each second that passes by is critical. As brain tissue and millions of neurons begin to die, time is ultimately more precious. This year’s campaign aims at raising awareness of the signs of stroke and the benefits of well-timed access to quality stroke treatment.
World Stroke Day 2021 theme is “Minutes Can Save Lives”, yes when it comes to stroke every single minute matters. With the global lifetime risk of stroke rising alarmingly at 1 in 4, it is evident that widespread public awareness events to educate people about symptoms is essential. Additionally, efforts has to be taken to save 5.5 million lives and promote the overall well-being of 9 million stroke survivors each year.
Well, fast access to treatment saves lives and speed up the recovery. Thus, if you spot any signs of stroke, call an ambulance immediately.
Early Warning signs
Stroke can occur to anyone at any age, any time and all need to know about the warning signs. With the help of letters in F.A.S.T let’s spot a stroke first.
F = Face Drooping
A = Arm Weakness
S = Speech Difficulty
T = Time to call an ambulance (as time loss is brain loss)
Furthermore, other symptoms one should know include:
Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, particularly on one side of the body.
Sudden confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding speech
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance
Sudden severe headache with no specified cause
Warning Signs In Posterior Circulation Stroke
Posterior circulation strokes develop when a blood vessel in the back region of the brain is blocked causing the death of brain cells in that region. It can also be caused by a ruptured blood vessel in the back part of the brain. In this type of stroke, symptoms can be very different from the usual.
Vertigo, as the room is spinning
Imbalance
One-sided arm or leg weakness.
Slurred speech
Double vision problems
A headache
Nausea and or vomiting
Also Read: Stroke/Cerebrovascular Accident: Causes, Symptoms And Treatment
Symptoms Of Stroke In Women
Generally, women have distinct symptoms, and these happen suddenly, which include:
Fainting
Weakness
Shortness of breath
Confusion
Sudden behavioural change
Irritation
Hallucination
Nausea or vomiting
Seizures
Remember early warning signs of a stroke may disappear after a few minutes. However, these symptoms may still denote a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Thus, even if symptoms settle, it’s essential to get prompt medical care right away.
Preventing stroke
The best treatment for a stroke is prevention. You can follow these steps to lower your risk factors for having a stroke by:
- Eating a wholesome diet including more vegetables, fruits beans, and nuts
- Adding seafood instead of red meat and poultry
- Reducing intake of sodium, saturated fats, sugars, and refined grains
- Engaging in regular exercise
- Quitting smoking/tobacco
- Limiting alcohol
- Taking prescribed medications for high blood pressure, as advised by the doctor
