Stroke: how to recognize and how to help the patient
Ignoring the cardiologist's recommendations is the most common cause of blood pressure spikes. It is enough to break taking the prescribed pills a few times and the pressure can rise to very high numbers. At this moment, acute cerebrovascular accident (CCA), better known as a stroke, usually occurs.
Why does a stroke occur
There are two main forms of HPMC — ischemic and hemorrhagic. The first occurs against the background of extremely high blood pressure. At the same time, too little blood flows through the narrowed arteries to various parts of the brain, as a result of which nerve cells begin to gradually die. It is even worse when, in addition to the narrowing of the artery, a thrombus or atherosclerotic plaque blocks it. In this case, the stroke occurs instantly and develops much faster.
Not all cells in the ischemia zone die at once. Due to the peculiarities of the brain's blood supply, not one, but two arteries or their branches - collaterals - approach some of its areas. Thanks to this, partial replacement of blood flow and protection of some cells from starvation is achieved. This allows the body to reduce the volume of affected tissues and reduce the degree of brain damage.
The situation is much worse with a hemorrhagic stroke. It develops when one of the blood vessels ruptures in the brain against the background of rising blood pressure. Blood from it enters the brain tissue, and this process can be quite long. Brain structures are compressed over a large area (sometimes there is so much blood that it compresses the entire brain). A large amount of damage determines the high severity of the disease and the worst prognosis.
Causes of stroke
Many factors can lead to the development of impaired cerebral circulation. The presence of any of them alone does not mean that a stroke will necessarily occur, but the risk of it increases. Main factors:
- hypertension;
- heart diseases;
- fibrillating arrhythmia;
- myocardial infarction suffered in the past;
- disorders of fat metabolism - dyslipidemia;
- diabetes, etc.
A big role is played by the age of the patient, his gender and weight. Rejection of a healthy lifestyle also increases the risk of CVD — smoking, alcohol abuse, and insufficient physical activity lead to deterioration of the vascular condition.
How to recognize a stroke
The symptoms of a stroke are quite diverse and depend on which structures are affected. The most common symptoms are sensitivity disorders and motor deficits. Usually, the most noticeable facial asymmetry with drooping of one corner of the mouth and eyelids, inability to move an arm and/or leg on one side of the body. Speech becomes slurred, it sounds as if the patient's mouth is full of food.
The extreme degree of neurological disorders in a stroke is coma. With ischemic, it may not develop at all, but with hemorrhagic disorder, it occurs quite often. Coma is a sign of the extreme severity of a stroke and a poor prognosis.
Sometimes a stroke does not manifest itself clearly, and this leads to the fact that a person does not turn to a specialist, losing precious time. For example, the appearance of strabismus, and only in one eye, loss of part of the field of vision or numbness of the skin of one of the limbs without movement disorders is possible.
First aid for a stroke
There is a concept of "therapeutic window". Its essence is to provide specialized assistance in the first three hours after the first symptoms appear. In this case, the patient has high chances, if not to recover completely, then at least to reduce the consequences of the disease to a minimum. "Ambulance" - this is who you should contact in case of a stroke.
What should be done at the slightest suspicion of HPMK:
- if the patient is conscious, put him on his back, if unconscious - on his side;
- ensure access to fresh air;
- call the "ambulance" team.
While the ambulance is on its way, prepare the necessary documents for hospitalization and find people who will help transfer the patient from the house to the ambulance car.
The site Dobrobut.com strongly does not recommend using the methods of combating strokes widely advertised on the Internet by pricking the fingers with needles and other nonsense. This will not save the person from the disease, but you will lose precious minutes or even hours to check the results.
Stroke is the most frequent cause of disability in all countries of the world. Only 8% of people recover completely. The rest have some consequences, sometimes quite severe. Giving up bad habits, carefully following all medical prescriptions for hypertension, diabetes and other diseases will reduce the risk of stroke to a minimum.
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