Stroke is a medical condition in which narrowed arteries cause a sudden cut off of oxygen to your brain, which leads to brain cell damage and subsequent effects. Due to its nature, this condition is classified as a medical emergency and requires immediate medical attention.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the prevalence of stroke is high, and they are considered one of the top five causes of death and disability. Even though stroke is prevalent, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions that need to be clarified.
How many types of stroke are there?
Before we start busting the myths and uncovering the facts related to stroke, you must know that there are two types of stroke –
Ischemic: These strokes account for the majority of strokes that occur. They are the result of a blockage or clot in a blood vessel supplying your brain.
Hemorrhagic: This type of stroke is caused by a rupture of a weak blood vessel.
Dispelling stroke myths with facts
Strokes occur mostly in older people
The reason for this myth is that as you age, your risk of stroke increases. However, it is a myth that stroke occurs only in the elderly. Anyone over the age of 18 can have a stroke, but the risk increases with age.
In fact, the incidence of stroke among youth is on the rise due to unhealthy lifestyle, increasing stress, high blood pressure levels etc.
There is a stroke in the heart.
There is a common misconception that stroke occurs in the heart. However, the fact remains that a stroke originates in the brain. When oxygen is cut off to your brain cells, neurons begin to degenerate and the brain suffers injury. This is essentially what a stroke is.
You can't prevent a stroke.
If you've been told that you can't prevent a stroke, that's a myth! The largest research studies on stroke have confirmed that in more than 90% of cases, stroke can be linked to high risk factors such as hyperglycemia, hypertension, hyperlipidemic conditions, and obesity.
These risk factors can be effectively prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle.
Stroke cannot be treated.
Another myth that you might have come across is that once you are hit by a stroke, it cannot be treated. However, the fact remains that if you seek medical help and treatment within the golden hour of the onset of stroke symptoms, the effects of stroke can be reversed.
Strokes are more common in men.
Is one gender better protected from stroke than the other? Yes. Are men more sensitive? Well, in fact, men are at a higher risk of having a stroke at a younger age; Women suffer from stroke at a later age. However, the death rate among women suffering from stroke is higher than that of men.
Stroke is difficult to recognize
Stroke can happen suddenly and may not give you enough time to recognize that you are having a stroke or seek medical treatment. However, it is a myth that stroke is difficult to recognise.
A simple test called BE FAST (Balance, Eye, Face, Arm, Speech, Time) can also be used by non-medical professionals to identify the aftermath of a stroke injury. You may notice problems with balance, blurred vision, slurred speech, drooping of the face, weakness in an arm or leg, all of which are indicators that you or a loved one may be experiencing a stroke.
Prompt medical attention at this point is the best way to increase your chances of a better prognosis.
Pain is the most common symptom of stroke.
Many people mistake a stroke for a heart attack and assume that you will experience some pain when you have a stroke. However, pain is experienced only in 30% of cases, and therefore, is not a very reliable symptom for diagnosing stroke.
COVID-19 cannot cause stroke
With the COVID-19 pandemic, people are scared to seek medical consultation for their regular health maintenance assessment and treatment of routine problems. However, you should know that COVID-19 may increase your chances of suffering a stroke due to its effects on blood clotting and inflammation.
If stroke symptoms go away, you may not need treatment.
If you think you're safe after your stroke symptoms have passed, think again! When you are suffering from stroke-like symptoms, you are actually suffering from Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA).
This condition is also a medical emergency and greatly increases the chances of having a stroke in the next few days. The difference between TIA and stroke is that in the case of TIA, the blood vessel blockage resolves quickly before leading to permanent nerve damage in the brain, which is a characteristic of stroke.
Smoking has nothing to do with stroke.
It is a common myth that only lifestyle factors such as high blood pressure, blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels and abdominal diameter increase the chances of stroke. However, smoking is known to be a major risk factor for stroke.
Strokes do not run in families.
Is there any family member who has suffered from stroke? Contrary to popular belief, this increases your risk of having a stroke. This is attributed to the fact that most risk factors for stroke also run in families and are hereditary. Therefore, family history is one of the important factors in the development of stroke.
Conclusion
The only way to reduce your chances of developing a stroke is to live a healthy lifestyle and keep all your blood parameters within normal limits. If you or a loved one is experiencing stroke symptoms, it is important to seek prompt medical treatment to reduce damage and improve prognosis. Whether you are old or young, a COVID-19 infection increases your chances of having a stroke.
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