[Helpful Tip] Warning signs and treatment methods for stroke

Hello?

Today, I will share a health tip with you about the early symptoms of stroke and cerebral infarction.

Earlier this year, my father, who is over eighty years old, was diagnosed with an early stage of stroke and went through a difficult few months.

At that time, because I was also infected with COVID-19, there were no hospitals willing to provide treatment, which caused many difficulties. However, with the help of the local health center, I was able to receive treatment at the emergency room of Seoul Medical Center located in Jungnang-gu. After basic emergency care, I received further treatment at the neurology department of Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Yongsan-gu, near my home.

Both places had MRI scans, but fortunately, I have recovered a lot now.

Therefore, I will provide you with detailed information about strokes and cerebral infarctions, hoping it will be helpful to you and your precious family members.

Let's learn about stroke.

Stroke consists of two types: ischemic stroke caused by blocked blood vessels and hemorrhagic stroke caused by ruptured blood vessels, commonly referred to as "paralysis" in Korea.

Since brain cells are difficult to regenerate or recover once damaged, early detection and treatment lead to a better prognosis.

Now, I will inform you about the early symptoms, warning signs, examinations, and treatments for stroke and cerebral infarction.

 

1. Causes of stroke and cerebral infarction

High blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, hyperlipidemia, nicotine, alcohol, and obesity are reported as causative factors of stroke.

In particular, if blood pressure remains consistently high, arteriosclerosis occurs in the cerebral blood vessels, causing them to gradually harden and narrow. When this area becomes completely blocked at some point, a stroke occurs, and if the vessels become rigid and lose elasticity, they may rupture, leading to a cerebral hemorrhage.

Hypertension increases the risk of stroke by 2 to as much as 4 times, which is why it is important to pay attention to managing high blood pressure.

 

2. Early symptoms and warning signs of ischemic stroke

The early warning signs of a stroke typically include sudden paralysis of one side of the face or body and slurred speech, but while warning signs can sometimes appear, most cases occur suddenly without prior symptoms.

1. Language impairment: The mind feels normal, but speech is difficult, and understanding the other person's words is impaired.

② Speech disorder: Muscles such as the tongue and lips are paralyzed, making accurate pronunciation impossible.

Hemiplegia: When there is an abnormality in one side of the brain, paralysis usually occurs on the opposite side, but if a brainstem stroke occurs, all four limbs may become paralyzed.

④ Hemisensory deficit: Similar to hemiplegia, sensory impairment occurs on the opposite side of the brain damage, affecting the face, arm, and leg.

⑤ Walking impairment: Inability to control hands and feet freely, frequently leaning to one side and falling while walking.

6. Visual field and visual impairment: Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes or narrowing of the visual field.

7. Swallowing disorder: Unable to swallow food and saliva, leading to drooling.

8. Headache: A headache that is more severe than usual occurs.

If any of the above symptoms suddenly appear, you should seek medical attention promptly.

 

3. Stroke Ischemic Brain Scan

The condition of the brain is assessed through diagnostic methods such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), angiography, and ultrasound.

Computed tomography (CT) of the brain is used to differentiate hemorrhagic stroke, which causes acute neurological deficits.

Standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) cannot accurately detect infarction within 8 to 12 hours after symptom onset, thus having limitations in diagnosing acute ischemic stroke. Therefore, new MRI techniques are being developed to improve the diagnosis and treatment of acute stroke. These techniques enable greater sensitivity, anatomical resolution, early detection, and characterization.

 

4. Stroke Ischemic Brain Infarction Treatment

Treatment methods are commonly divided into medication, surgery, and rehabilitation therapy.

1) Medication

Drug therapy commonly involves the administration of thrombolytics either intravenously or intra-arterially, but the direct intra-arterial injection method, which allows for immediate effect, is difficult to perform due to the significant time and personnel required.

Intravenous administration can be used within 3 hours of occurrence, and while the method is simple, a disadvantage is that immediate effectiveness is difficult to confirm.

Above all, despite the side effect of occasionally causing fatal brain hemorrhages, it still shows the most excellent therapeutic effect in treatment and is widely performed. It is important to start treatment within the golden time, ideally within 3 hours or at the latest within 6 hours.

2) Surgery

In cases where the brain arteries are severely narrowed or the area of brain damage is considered too large, medication alone is insufficient to prevent recurrence.

Therefore, depending on the degree of narrowing of the cerebral artery and the patient's condition, procedures such as stent placement to forcibly widen the narrowed blood vessel or carotid endarterectomy to eliminate atherosclerosis can be performed.

3) Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation therapy is very important after a stroke.

Through this, brain damage can be minimized and daily life functions can be restored, including rehabilitation such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy.

 

5. Stroke and ischemic stroke prevention, lifestyle habits

If you have risk factors such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or diabetes, lifestyle habits are really important.

However, even people without risk factors may suddenly develop a stroke, so prevention and lifestyle improvements are important in daily life.

Five ways to prevent stroke and cerebral infarction

You should maintain normal blood pressure regularly.

You must maintain an appropriate weight.

You need to manage your blood sugar and cholesterol.

It is recommended to abstain from alcohol and nicotine.

⑤ You should adopt low-sodium and high-potassium dietary habits.

Today, I have explained the early symptoms, warning signs, examination, and treatment of stroke and cerebral infarction.

 

The photo below shows the prescription and medication prescribed by your father.

I took the photo myself.