Stroke - what is it?
There are two main types of stroke: cerebral infarction and cerebral haemorrhage. A cerebral infarction is caused by a vascular occlusion, whereby an artery is blocked either by a blood clot or due to vascular calcification.
A cerebral haemorrhage occurs when a vessel in the brain bursts. In both cases, there is a lack of blood flow to the underlying areas of the brain, resulting in an undersupply of oxygen and nutrients.
Recognising a stroke and behaviour in an emergency
The first time after a stroke determines the extent of the damage to the brain. Every minute counts!
The FAST test can be used to quickly check whether a stroke is suspected.
Face: Can the person smile? If one corner of the mouth hangs down, this indicates hemiplegia.
Arms: Can the person stretch both arms forwards and turn their palms upwards? If paralysed, one arm would droop or rotate.
Speech: Can the person repeat a simple sentence? If this is not the case or if the voice sounds unclear, this indicates a speech disorder.
Time: Call 112 immediately and describe the symptoms.
Until the emergency services arrive, you can help the person as follows: calm them down, loosen tight clothing, do not give them anything to drink (they may have difficulty swallowing), if they are unconscious, place them in the recovery position, if they are in cardiac or respiratory arrest, resuscitate them immediately.
Recognising and avoiding risks
In addition to risk factors that we cannot influence, such as heredity, age and certain environmental influences, there are also some that are avoidable. High blood pressure is the main risk factor for a stroke, as it causes damage to the blood vessel walls and promotes the development of arteriosclerosis. It is therefore important to recognise and treat high blood pressure in good time. With regular exercise, you can actively reduce the risk of a stroke, as the body is supplied with more oxygen, which makes the blood vessels more elastic.
People who are overweight have a two to three times higher risk, smokers even have up to a four times higher risk, as many of the harmful substances put particular strain on the blood vessels. Stress also has a negative impact, as it can contribute to a narrowing of the blood vessels and an increase in heart rate. Know your risk and stay healthy.
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