Stroke: The Silent Killer: Warning Signs, Prevention Measures, Are You Aware?

Stroke: The Silent Killer: Warning Signs, Prevention Measures, Are You Aware?Stroke, a disease that strikes fear in the hearts of many, is like a silent killer lurking in your blood vessels, silently stealing people's health. In recent years, the incidence of stroke has been rising steadily and showing a trend of affecting younger people, causing widespread concern

Stroke: The Silent Killer: Warning Signs, Prevention Measures, Are You Aware?

Stroke, a disease that strikes fear in the hearts of many, is like a silent killer lurking in your blood vessels, silently stealing people's health. In recent years, the incidence of stroke has been rising steadily and showing a trend of affecting younger people, causing widespread concern. So, what exactly is causing more and more people to develop strokes? How can we prevent this silent killer?

I. The Culprits Behind Stroke: Unveiling the Truth Behind the High Incidence Rate

Acute ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke (also known as cerebrovascular accident), caused by blockage of blood vessels in the brain, leading to ischemia, damage, or even death of brain tissue. This disease is extremely dangerous, causing disability in mild cases and death in severe cases. It is particularly prevalent among middle-aged and elderly individuals aged 45-70.

What makes stroke an "epidemic"?

1. Hypertension: The Invisible Killer of Blood Vessels

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cerebrovascular disease. It accelerates the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, increasing the risk of vascular rupture. Studies have shown that hypertension increases the risk of large-vessel events after stroke, especially paying attention to high blood pressure in the morning, as blood pressure is more prone to fluctuate at this time, triggering stroke.

2. Diabetes: The Chronic Killer of Sugar

Diabetic patients are 2.5-3.5 times more likely to develop stroke than non-diabetics. Up to 20% of stroke patients have a history of diabetes. Diabetes can damage the inner lining of blood vessels, accelerate atherosclerosis, and increase the incidence of stroke.

3. Dyslipidemia: The Invisible Bomb in Blood

Dyslipidemia leads to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. Unstable plaques are prone to rupture, causing vascular blockage and triggering stroke. High cholesterol, high triglycerides, and other dyslipidemias can increase the risk of stroke.

4. Lack of Exercise: The Chronic Poison of Health

Long-term lack of exercise can lead to obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, all of which are risk factors for stroke. Regular exercise not only helps control weight and lower blood pressure but can also slow down the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular complications, preventing stroke and heart attack.

5. Smoking: The Chronic Poison of Blood Vessels

Smoking can severely damage the inner lining of blood vessels, accelerate atherosclerosis, and increase the incidence of stroke. Studies have shown that the longer one smokes, the higher the risk of stroke.

6. Unhealthy Diet: A Deadly Trap for Health

An unhealthy diet can lead to hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, and other problems, which are all risk factors for stroke. Foods high in salt, fat, and sugar can increase the burden on blood vessels and easily induce stroke. Conversely, healthy diets like the Mediterranean diet can reduce the risk of stroke by 40% in high-risk patients.

II. Post-Meal "Taboos": Avoiding the Risk of Stroke, Starting with Details

In addition to the above factors, some bad habits in daily life can also increase the risk of stroke. The following three things should be avoided after meals:

1. Smoking Immediately After Meals: A Double Blow to Blood Vessels

Many people have the habit of smoking a cigarette after meals. However, smoking immediately after meals will increase the burden on blood vessels. This is because digesting food requires a large amount of blood to flow to the digestive tract. Smoking at this time makes it easier for harmful substances to be absorbed, exacerbating vascular damage and increasing the risk of stroke.

2. Emotional Excitement After Meals: Sudden Stress on Blood Vessels

For individuals with underlying conditions such as hypertension, emotional excitement after meals can cause blood pressure fluctuations, increasing the burden on the cardiovascular system and increasing the risk of stroke. Therefore, it is important to maintain a calm state after meals and avoid emotional excitement.

3. Taking a Bath Immediately After Meals: Blood "Competition" in Blood Vessels

Most of the blood in the body flows to the digestive tract after meals. Taking a bath immediately after meals will cause blood redistribution, reducing blood supply to the brain, easily inducing stroke. It is recommended to rest for a while after meals and wait for blood circulation to return to normal before taking a bath.

III. Warning Signs of Approaching Stroke: Timely Recognition, Securing the Best Treatment Time

Stroke does not occur suddenly. It will send out some warning signals before the attack. If these signals can be identified in time, the best treatment time can be secured to reduce the damage caused by stroke.

Common stroke warning signs include:

1. Stiffness at the Root of the Tongue: Difficulty Swallowing, Slurred Speech

Suddenly feeling stiff at the root of the tongue, swelling of the tongue, feeling difficulty swallowing, unclear speech, etc., should alert you to the possibility of a stroke.

2. Severe Headache: Dizziness, Sudden Relief

Out of nowhere, a severe headache occurs, feeling dizzy, followed by self-relief. This should alert you to the possibility of an approaching stroke.

3. Drowsiness: Brain Ischemia, Mental Fatigue

Stroke patients may experience drowsiness due to narrowing of the arterial lumen, leading to brain ischemia.

4. Sudden Fall: Weakness, Loss of Balance

Cerebrovascular disease can lead to limb dysfunction, increasing the risk of sudden falls.

5. Changes in Temperament: Abnormal Personality, Emotional Fluctuations

Suddenly becoming silent or irritable, experiencing unusual mental changes, should also alert you to the possibility of a stroke.

6. Decreased Grip Strength: Limb Weakness, Difficulty Grasping

Suddenly feeling weak in one hand, dropping things, could be a sign of decreased grip strength. Be careful about the possibility of stroke.

7. Hemiplegia: Limb Numbness, Difficulty Moving

In severe cases, the patient quickly becomes unconscious. In mild cases, symptoms such as slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, nausea, and vomiting may occur.

If any of the above symptoms occur, call 120 emergency services immediately and seek medical attention for examination and treatment.

IV. Preventing Stroke, Starting Now: Developing Healthy Habits, Avoiding the "Silent Killer"

Preventing stroke is key to developing good lifestyle habits, starting with daily diet, exercise, and emotional management.

1. Dietary Control: Balanced Diet, Balanced Nutrition

1.1. Supplementing Unsaturated Fatty Acids: Cleaning Up Blood Vessel "Waste"

Eating more unsaturated fatty acids found in peanut oil, nuts, olive oil, fish, rapeseed oil, etc., can remove bad cholesterol from the blood, reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, and prevent heart attack and stroke.

1.2. Low-Salt, Low-Sodium, High-Potassium Diet: Controlling Blood Pressure, Preventing Stroke

Based on the 2022 Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents, daily salt intake should be less than 5 grams, controlling the intake of hidden salt, such as pickled foods, soy sauce, etc. At the same time, eat more potassium-rich foods such as mushrooms, wood ear fungi, bananas, oranges, rapeseed, cabbage, etc., to promote sodium excretion, which helps lower blood pressure.

1.3. Supplementing Folic Acid: Reducing Thrombosis Risk, Preventing Stroke

Folic acid deficiency can increase the risk of hyperhomocysteinemia, thereby increasing the risk of stroke. Therefore, appropriate supplementation of folic acid can help prevent stroke. Foods rich in folic acid include spinach, broccoli, asparagus, oranges, etc.

2. Maintaining Exercise: Strengthening the Body, Staying Away from Disease

Studies have found that regular aerobic exercise can reduce the risk of cerebrovascular events. Men who regularly engage in physical activity can reduce their stroke risk by 27%. It is recommended to engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a day, such as brisk walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, etc.

3. Emotional Management: Maintaining Calmness, Staying Away from Stress

Excessive stress and emotional fluctuations can easily lead to increased blood pressure, increasing the risk of stroke. It is important to learn how to regulate emotions, maintain a calm state of mind, and avoid excessive tension and anxiety.

4. Regular Checkups: Early Detection, Timely Intervention

Regular checkups can help detect risk factors for stroke, such as hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, early on and intervene promptly to reduce the risk of stroke.

V. Conclusion: Overcoming Stroke Requires Joint Efforts from the Entire Society

Stroke is related to various factors. It requires joint efforts from the entire society, starting with ourselves, to prevent stroke. It is important to actively control blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood lipids, develop healthy lifestyles, and undergo regular physical examinations. Only in this way can we effectively reduce the incidence of stroke, protect our health, and stay away from the "silent killer."

References:

[1] 33.Shanxi Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 2024-04-22

[2] 7.Life Times. 2024