Myths and Facts about Brain Stroke

 

If you are having trouble speaking, facing difficulty in understanding what others are saying, paralysis or numbness of the face, arm or leg, headache, and difficulty walking, then you might have the brain stroke, and it is the high time to take a treatment. 

A stroke will occur when the blood supply to part of your brain is blocked or hindered due to which the tissues inside the brain don’t get ample oxygen and nutrients. Brain cells will start dying within a few minutes.  

If immediate action is not taken, brain damage can also occur. Though it is such a problem that requires prompt response and treatment by specialists, many rumors have created a ruckus among people. In this article, we will discuss the myths and facts of brain stroke. But before we head to this section, let’s first sum up the details of brain stroke.

Brain stroke might be caused by a blocked artery (ischemic stroke) or leaking or bursting of a blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke). Generally, it is caused due to overweight, physical inactivity, heavy or binge drinking, and consumption of illegal drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine. If we talk about medical risk factors, high blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes, and even COVID-19 infection can lead to brain stroke.

Myth №1: Only older people get brain strokes

Though the majority of brain strokes occur to people of age 55 or above as compared to younger people but can happen at any age if you have a poor lifestyle or medical risks mentioned above, also, men have a higher risk of brain stroke than women. Still, women are more likely to die of strokes than men.

Myth №2: Strokes are rare

While in the US, the prevalence of strokes ranged from 244/100,000 to 424/100,000, the numbers in India are 262/100,00 to 334/100,000. Therefore, strokes are becoming a common disease among people, and doctors keep stressing that people must take care of their lifestyle.

Myth №3: A stroke takes place in the heart

It first takes place in your brain. The neurons (nerve cells in your brain) require blood flow, nutrients, and oxygen to function properly. If the supply is somehow cut off due to blood clots or any other disease, the neurons will start dying, and stroke will occur.

Myth №4: Strokes can’t be prevented

Out of all the examined risk factors mentioned above, 90% of the strokes are due to them, and they can be easily treated and prevented. Having a healthy lifestyle can help you from all such threats. But the strokes are preventable upto a certain extent. So, you must consult the doctor as soon as you start feeling the symptoms.

Myth №5: Strokes can’t be treated

The majority of the strokes are ischemic caused by a clot and can be treated nowadays. If the patient comes within 5 hours of the onset of stroke symptoms, a tissue plasminogen activator, which is a clot-busting medication can be given that will probably save the person by reversing the damage.

Myth №6: Pain is the most common sign of stroke

It is not a reliable symptom, as only 30% of people with ischemic stroke have headaches. Instead, most common headaches are the onset of numbness or weakness, double vision, confusion, lack of coordination, trouble understanding, etc.

Myth №7: Strokes are not hereditary

Yes, strokes also run in families. Hypertension, diabetes, obesity are such symptoms that have genetic components. Even cardiac tumors, clotting disorders, and abnormalities with blood vessels also pass from generation to generation.

Myth №8: If stroke symptoms pass, you don’t need treatment

A medical emergency occurs when someone has temporary symptoms of stroke called a transient ischemic attack or TIA. The only difference between TIA and stroke is that the blood clot that was blocked during a TIA opens up before it causes permanent damage. But those having TIA have a severe danger of getting a stroke within a week. Thus, one must get medical attention immediately.

Myth №9: Smoking doesn’t affect your chances of having a stroke

It is rather one of the most significant risk factors for stroke, which is nowadays more among younger people. It is true for first-time, recurrent, ischemic, and hemorrhagic strokes.

Myth №10: Stroke recovery only happens in the first few months after a stroke

Though it takes a few months for proper recovery sometimes, it may take upto a year too! Physical therapy and other treatments are quite helpful in treating stroke.

Thus neurological disorders, especially strokes, are taking a toll on people’s health at a very fast pace, mostly due to lifestyle habits.

Ojas Hospital — Best Hospital for Stroke Management, Neurology and Neurosurgery

The experts at Ojas Hospital provide seamless treatments to the ones who get strokes or suffering from other neurological disorders. Our modern approach towards treating the diseases along with the therapy sessions by experts is what separates us from other hospitals.

Our Department of Neurosciences provides patient care services for a wide range of neurosurgical and neurological disorders.

The Neurology services also include seizures/epilepsy, migraine, vision loss, nerve muscle weakness, facial deviation and pain, numbness of limbs, parkinson’s disease, dementia, and vertigo.

Dr. V.K Batish (Director and Senior Consultant — Neurosurgery) and Dr. Gourav Jain leads a team of the most educated and talented team of doctors who have handled even the most complicated cases and have successfully treated them.

Ojas Hospital provides holistic healthcare services with word class professional doctors and trained staff. “WE CARE AND HE CURES” What we believe in. That’s why we are OJAS!