Updated | 3 October 2024 Author : José Ferro It is estimated that 25 thousand new strokes occur each year in Portugal, which translates into approximately 70 new cases per day. Of these 25 thousand cases, 10% will die as a result of the stroke and 35% will be dependent on others for their basic activities: eating, dressing or bathing. What is a stroke? Stroke results from different phenomena that affect the cerebral circulation, causing alteration of the cerebral functioning, either by: Blood flow obstruction (ischemic stroke); Rupture of an intracranial artery (hemorrhagic stroke). In the face of this serious public health problem, how can we protect ourselves? We should all know how to detect and treat risk factors. We should periodically carry out a medical assessment, which will include detecting and monitoring individual characteristics called risk factors that may increase the likelihood of stroke. What are the main risk factors for a stroke? The main risk factors are: High blood pressure ; Smoking; Diabetes; High cholesterol; Being overweight; Sedentary lifestyle; Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages; Atrial fibrillation (cardiac arrhythmia); Sleep apnea. These factors can be corrected by changing habits and taking medication. We must therefore adopt healthy lifestyles as a form of prevention: Taking regular physical exercise; Giving up smoking ; Decrease alcoholic beverages consumption; Have a balanced and healthy diet. What are the warning signs of a stroke? Strokes can give very different symptoms depending on the area of the brain affected. However, the most common symptoms that should be taught as typical for stroke are: Facial asymmetry (mouth to side); Difficulty speaking; Lack of strength in an arm or leg. How to react to the signs of stroke? If you suspect a stroke, in Portugal you should call 112 immediately to activate the Via Verde do AVC . Patients with suspected stroke will be transported without delay to the nearest medical center that has a stroke unit capable of appropriate treatment. What you should not do is wait for the symptoms to pass or call the doctor home. Is there treatment for stroke? Early hospitalization is essential, not only to reduce the risk of stroke complications , but also to determine the cause of stroke , thus allowing its proper treatment and reducing the risk of recurrence. There are currently emergency treatments for the most common type of stroke, ischemic stroke . one of these is intravenous thrombolysis , should be performed within the first four and a half hours after the onset of symptoms. Treatment consists of intravenously administering a drug that will attempt to dissolve the clot that has clogged a cerebral artery, causing stroke. According to stroke characteristics, in selected cases, another form of treatment may be attempted until 24 hours after the onset of symptoms - mechanical thrombectomy - which consists of attempting to remove the clot with a catheter. During hospitalization, it is good practice to perform various circulatory system examinations as soon as possible, using neurosonology techniques (eg, transcranial Doppler, carotid and vertebral axis Doppler), cardiology (eg, Holter, echocardiogram), and neuroradiology (eg magnetic resonance imaging (cranial arterial angiography). In special situations, some more complex examinations and / or interventions may be required. On admission, a rehabilitation program should be immediately initiated to minimize the impact of stroke symptoms. How to avoid a new stroke? In the post-stroke consultation, clinical monitoring and surveillance of the various relevant risk factors in each case is performed. For this, some tests are performed, varying on a case-by-case basis, including blood tests, cardiac tests and brain and vascular imaging. The vast majority of stroke patients need lifelong preventive medication, usually with anti-aggregating or anticoagulant drugs, in addition to lifestyle modifications and necessary pharmacological control of vascular risk factors. The follow-up consultation also addresses other clinical aspects such as the symptoms of depression and anxiety common in people who have suffered stroke, as well as guidance on adaptation and recovery of autonomy and functionality after stroke. Meet the neurology from Hospital da Luz network and book your consultation . The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
