New Delhi: India is home to millions of stroke patients and the cases are rapidly increasing due to various factors such as obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels, high blood sugar levels, stress, lack of exercise, abnormal heart rhythms, sleep apnea, smoking, family history, and age. However, one has to be aware and recognize the signs of stroke when it comes to his/her loved ones.
In an interaction with , Dr. Rahul Jankar, Neurophysician, at AIMS Hospital, Dombivli, listed the warning signs of a stroke.
Pay attention to these warning signs of a stroke
BEFAST is the acronym for a stroke that one should be aware of.
- B: Balance: Loss of balance and inability to walk will also mean the patient has a stroke
- E: Eyes: Blurring of the eyes or loss of vision are some of the symptoms of stroke
- F: Face: Facial drooping is also seen in many of the stroke patients
- A: Arm: Weakness of the arms
- S: Speech: Slurred speech will indicate a stroke
- T: Time: Timely intervention by taking the patient to the nearest stroke-ready hospital is key to saving his/her life
For improved survival rates, stroke patients should receive timely treatment within the golden hour (one hour after the stroke).
Stroke treatment
Thrombolytic are administered when the patient comes in an emergency to dissolve the clot and help the patient improve his/her quality of life. If the stroke is severe and blocks the major blood vessel in the brain then one will also require angioplasty and stents or even surgery. Moreover, one will also be recommended physiotherapy to move freely after the stroke. If the stroke affects the right side of the brain, movement and feeling on the left side of your body may be compromised. If the stroke damages the left side of the brain, movement and feeling on the right side of your body are known to be affected.
Brain damage to the left side of the brain can lead to speech and language disorders in patients and they will need the help of a speech therapist to relearn the skills. The expert recommends the stroke rehabilitation program based on your age, overall health, and degree of disability from the stroke. Remember, the recovery of each patient is different based on the type and severity of the stroke. Stroke patients should strictly adhere to the instructions given by the expert for favorable outcomes.
