The disease you need to be most cautious of when the daily temperature difference is large... What should you do if you have stroke symptoms?

 

As fall transitions into winter, the weather has suddenly become colder, leading to a significant increase in daily temperature fluctuations. When temperature fluctuations between day and night are extreme, blood vessels constrict, impeding blood flow to the brain, increasing the risk of cerebrovascular disease. Stroke, among these, is a fatal condition, ranking fourth among the leading causes of death in Korea.

 

Cerebral infarction patients, who account for about 80% of stroke patients, die every year. The number of patients has increased from 508,415 in 2021 to 536,179 in 2023. When a cerebrovascular emergency occurs, securing the golden hour is crucial. This is because it significantly impacts prognosis, determining not only life or death but also future life.

Stroke is divided into cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral infarction. Cerebral hemorrhage occurs when a cerebral blood vessel bulges and bursts, causing blood to pool. Cerebral infarction occurs when a blood clot, breaking off from the blood vessel wall, blocks a cerebral blood vessel, cutting off the blood supply to the brain.

 

If ▲your pronunciation suddenly becomes slurred, ▲you have trouble speaking, or ▲you experience headaches, dizziness, or vision problems, these may be warning signs of a stroke.

 

Especially in cases of acute cerebral infarction, it's crucial to quickly unblock the blocked blood vessel and restore blood flow. Because damaged brain tissue cannot regenerate, the golden hour is crucial. If a stroke, such as cerebral infarction, is not treated promptly, the area of ​​brain damage will gradually expand from the center to the periphery over time.

 

Professor Jang Yoon-kyung of the Department of Neurology at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital said, "It can be injected within four and a half hours of the onset of acute cerebral infarction symptoms, and the sooner treatment is started, the better the prognosis." She added, "You need to get to the hospital quickly after the onset and respond." Thrombolysis is performed in the emergency room. Professor Jang said, "Thrombolysis is the most effective treatment for patients with acute cerebral infarction. It involves injecting a clot-dissolving drug intravenously to open the blocked blood vessel and prevent brain tissue from dying."

 

Thrombolysis isn't the only treatment for acute cerebral infarction. Because intravenous thrombolytics increase the risk of bleeding, some patients are not treated with thrombolysis. In these cases, patients are admitted to a stroke intensive care unit with medication and careful monitoring by specialists. Professor Jang also stated, "After thrombolytic injection, depending on the location of the occluded blood vessel or the size of the cerebral infarction, other treatment options, such as intra-arterial thrombectomy or emergency vascular bypass surgery, may be considered."

 

To prevent stroke, it's important to reduce stroke risk factors through regular health checkups and lifestyle management. Those with underlying medical conditions or a high risk of cerebrovascular disease require even more special care. To prevent vascular diseases such as high blood pressure and arteriosclerosis, be careful not to consume too much salt, and eat plenty of vegetables and fruits rather than foods high in cholesterol.

 

Professor Jang Yoon-kyung said, "Especially when the temperature changes rapidly, blood vessels constrict, heart rate increases, and the risk of blood clots increases." She added, "You should be careful about cold weather to avoid rapid changes in body temperature, and take care to manage your condition by controlling underlying diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia, eating a healthy diet, and exercising regularly."

 

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In seasons where the weather suddenly gets cold

You need to pay special attention to blood vessel management.

So my mom always

A hat is required