Stroke
 

A stroke affects the arteries leading to and within the brain, and happens when a blood vessel carrying oxygen to the brain gets blocked or ruptures. A stroke may be caused by either a blood clot obstructing the flow of blood to the brain (ischemic stroke) or by a blood vessel rupturing and preventing blood flow to the brain (hemorrhagic stroke). Meanwhile a transient ischemic stroke is a ‘warning stroke’ caused by a temporary blood clot.

Anyone can suffer from a stroke but older adults above the age of 65 are at a higher risk than others.

Recognising the Signs

A stroke is a life-threatening medical condition where every second counts. Thus it is important that you know how to recognize the signs of an impending stroke and know when to contact emergency medical services. The sooner the stroke is treated, the better your chances of lessening the severity of the long-term effects.

To recognize the warning signs of stroke, you got to think FAST

1. Face: Asking the individual to smile and noting if one side of the face droops
2. Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms and check if one drifts downwards
3. Speech: Look out for slurred or if they are speaking differently than usual
4. Time: If you observe any of the signs above, note down the time it started and seek emergency help right away

Lowering Your Risk of Stroke

You can help lower your risk of developing a stroke by making a few healthier lifestyle choices:

• Eating a healthier diet
• Keeping a healthy weight
• Quit smoking
• Limit your alcohol intake
• Keep your medical conditions under control