10 commonly asked questions about stroke answered
1. Stroke affects heart
No.
#stroke affects brain and causes paralysis.
#heart attack is known by the term myocardial infarction.
#MedTwitter #NeuroTwitter
1. Stroke affects heart
No.
#stroke affects brain and causes paralysis.
#heart attack is known by the term myocardial infarction.
#MedTwitter #NeuroTwitter
2. Common symptoms of stroke:
SUDDEN ONSET
*Weakness of arm, leg or face, usually on one side
*Inability to understand spoken words or to speak
*Imbalance while walking
*Reduced vision on one half or in one eye
*Sudden onset severe headache
SUDDEN ONSET
*Weakness of arm, leg or face, usually on one side
*Inability to understand spoken words or to speak
*Imbalance while walking
*Reduced vision on one half or in one eye
*Sudden onset severe headache
3. Risk factors for stroke
*High blood pressure
*Diabetes
*High total and LDL cholesterol or high triglycerides and low HDL
*High homocysteine
*Heart diseases
*Smoking
*Alcohol consumption
*Lack of sleep
*Stress
Overweight or obesity
*Older age
*Family history of stroke
*High blood pressure
*Diabetes
*High total and LDL cholesterol or high triglycerides and low HDL
*High homocysteine
*Heart diseases
*Smoking
*Alcohol consumption
*Lack of sleep
*Stress
Overweight or obesity
*Older age
*Family history of stroke
4. People with normal body weight can't get stroke.
Wrong.
There are many other risk factors of stroke, as mentioned in point 3 above. So, a normal weight person with other risk factors can suffer from stroke.
Wrong.
There are many other risk factors of stroke, as mentioned in point 3 above. So, a normal weight person with other risk factors can suffer from stroke.
5. Young people with no (modifiable) risk factors can not get a stroke.
Wrong.
Genetic factors play an important role. So, a person with history of stroke among family members can suffer from stroke.
Wrong.
Genetic factors play an important role. So, a person with history of stroke among family members can suffer from stroke.
6. Some patients with stroke symptoms recover within a few minutes on their own.
TRUE.
These are called transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) or mini-strokes.
But one should not ignore them, as many people with TIAs can suffer from major strokes in the future.
TRUE.
These are called transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) or mini-strokes.
But one should not ignore them, as many people with TIAs can suffer from major strokes in the future.
7. Aspirin should be given to all patients with suspected stroke even before doing CT scan.
NO.
We need to identify the type of stroke- ischemic (due to lack of blood flow to brain) or hemorrhagic (due to bleeding in brain). Aspirin is useful in ischemic, but harmful in bleeding.
NO.
We need to identify the type of stroke- ischemic (due to lack of blood flow to brain) or hemorrhagic (due to bleeding in brain). Aspirin is useful in ischemic, but harmful in bleeding.
8. What is the golden hour for stroke treatment?
Treatments to dissolve blood clot in brain work best in the first 4.5 hours after stroke onset.
Agents approved for clot buster therapy are alteplase and tenecteplase.
Treatments to dissolve blood clot in brain work best in the first 4.5 hours after stroke onset.
Agents approved for clot buster therapy are alteplase and tenecteplase.
9. Can aspirin dissolve clot?
NO
Blood thinners such as aspirin or clopidogrel can not dissolve clot.
Refer to point 8 to know more about clot buster drugs
NO
Blood thinners such as aspirin or clopidogrel can not dissolve clot.
Refer to point 8 to know more about clot buster drugs
10. Medicines for stroke prevention can be stopped after some time.
NO
People who have suffered TIA or stroke once need lifelong medicines to prevent recurrence of stroke.
In addition, risk factors also need to be controlled.
NO
People who have suffered TIA or stroke once need lifelong medicines to prevent recurrence of stroke.
In addition, risk factors also need to be controlled.
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