It is very important to know the signs / symptoms of stroke so that the patient gets expert medical care as quickly as possible. For stroke related emergencies, call us on 155218 immediately.

Stroke: Every Second Counts

Time is the most crucial factor when it comes to treatment of strokes. The person will keep losing around 1.9 million neurons per minute if there’s a continued obstruction in blood flow to the brain, which in turn might lead to permanent loss of abilities/ functions like memory, speech and muscle control.

The following are the symptoms that call for immediate medical help. Remember, these symptoms appear all of a sudden, so PLEASE DO NOT WAIT.

• Numbness/ weakness in the face, arm or leg
• Numbness/ weakness on one side of the body
• Confusion and trouble in speaking/ understanding all of a sudden
• Unable to see (one or both eyes)
• Cannot walk, sudden loss of balance, coordination
• Sudden spell of dizziness
• Severe headache with no known cause

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There are two types of strokes: Hemorrhagic Stroke and Ischemic Stroke. ​

HEMORRHAGIC STROKE

When a blood vessel in the brain bursts or leaks, the blood spills into the brain, causing swelling, pressure and obstruction in oxygen delivery. This results in damage of brain cells and tissue; and can prove fatal if left untreated.

Hemorrhagic strokes can be caused due to various disorders that affect the blood vessels, including prolonged high blood pressure (hypertension), aneurysms and arteriovenuous malformations.

What is Cerebral Aneurysm?

A weak spot in the wall of an artery that expands and bursts, cerebral aneurysms lead to blood leaks in the brain.

A burst aneurysm can be caused by high blood pressure (hypertension) or trauma (a sudden injury to the head).

What Is Arteriovenuous Malformation (AVM)?

A tangled mass of blood vessel present from birth, AVMs can occur anywhere in the body, including the brain and spine. The AVM gets bigger and weaker as the person gets older. If an AVM in the brain bursts, the person will get a hemorrhagic stroke.

There are two types of hemorrhagic strokes, based on their location in the brain: Intracerebal and Subarachnoid.

Intracerebral haemorrhage:

When an artery within the brain bursts, causing blood leak the brain, it is called intracerebral haemorrhage. The most common causes of this condition are high blood pressure (hypertension), ageing blood vessels and AVMs.

Subarachnoid haemorrhage:

When there is bleeding in the subarachnoid space (there are 3 layers of membrane or meninges that cover the brain. The subarachnoid space is the area between the layer closest to the brain and the second layer).

This type of stroke, which is mostly caused by burst aneurysms, can also be a result of:

• AVM
• Bleeding disorders
• Head injury
• Blood thinners

ISCHEMIC STROKE

The most common type of stroke, an ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel carrying blood to the brain is blocked by a blood clot.

This can occur in two ways:

1. Embolic Stroke

This happens when a blood clot or plaque fragment formed in the body (usually the heart) travels to the brain, lodges in a blood vessel and blocks the blood flow.

2. Thrombotic Stroke

This occurs when a clot (thrombus) formed inside an artery supplying blood to the brain blocks the blood flow. There are two types of blood clots that cause this condition:

(a) Large Vessel Thrombosis

(b) Small Vessel Disease

Thrombotic Stroke is usually seen in people with high cholesterol levels and atherosclerosis.

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If the symptoms of the stroke last for only a few minutes or less than 24 hours, it is called a Trans Ischemic Attack (TIA) or mini/ minor stroke.

Trans Ischemic Attack

When the blood flow to part of the brain stops for a very short period of time, it is called transient ischemic attack or TIA.
A warning sign/ indicative that the person is likely to suffer a real stroke within 3 months, TIA presents stroke-like symptoms that last less than 24 hours. TIAs do not usually cause permanent brain damage, but should not be ignored.

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A condition that affects the functioning of the brain, stroke can lead to loss of physical, emotional and cognitive abilities.

The after-effects of a stroke can be temporary or lifelong. From physical disabilities to loss of vital functions to depression, strokes can be devastating.

Physical Effects

The common physical after-effects of stroke include weakness, numbness and stiffness.

The other conditions include:

• Dysphagia or difficulty in swallowing
• Fatigue or tiredness or lack of energy
• Foot drop or difficulty lifting up the front the foot, which leads to drag of toes when walking
• Hemiparesis or muscle weakness to one side of the body
• Incontinence or lack of ability to control your bladder and/or bowel movements
• Pain
• Paralysis or lost ability to control one’s muscles
• Seizures and epilepsy: episodes of involuntary spasms or convulsions post stroke
• Sleeping problems
• Spasticity or limited coordination/ muscle movement/ painful muscle spasms in the arms and legs
• Decreased eyesight

Emotional Effects

Stroke can have hidden after-effects like emotional changes due to physical effects of brain damage including: Anxiety

• Frustration
• Anger
• Sadness
• Sense of loss
• Pseudobulbar effect (outburst of laughing or crying)
• Depression

Effects On Cognition

Damage to the brain after a stroke can cause many changes to cognition or the process of thinking, knowing and understanding things.

This may include:

• Aphasia or difficulty when speaking, understanding speech, reading and writing
• Memory loss
• Vascular Dementia or problems with reasoning, planning judgment, memory or other thought processes

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Recovery from stroke is usually a long-drawn process and involves making changes to the physical, social and emotional aspects of one’s life in order to prevent further attacks.

Life After Stroke

Strokes can have devastating after-effects on the body and mind, no doubt. But with timely treatment, a comprehensive rehabilitation plan and major alterations in lifestyle, one can expect to get back to achieve the best possible outcome.

The recovery period depends on the intensity of the attack, some survivors may take years to learn, re-learn and improve. However, it is the support from the caregivers that make all the difference and hasten the healing process – stroke survivors need to be approached with patience, compassion, understanding and love so that they regain the will to live.

Besides, patients also need to take care of the following to prevent further attacks:

• Quit smoking
• Carefully manage the blood pressure to prevent hypertension
• Take medications as prescribed on time, without fail
• Control high cholesterol
• Keep diabetes under control
• Manage heart conditions like Atrial Fibrillation or irregular heartbeat
• Eat a healthy diet
• Increase physical activity
• Quit alcohol

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Call :155218

An advanced facility with a 24-hour emergency wing for all stroke care.

Aster Stroke Clinic: Act FAST

A dedicated facility that offers comprehensive stroke care (including 24/7 emergency services) and personalised post-stroke rehabilitation, the Aster Stroke Clinic is led by a team of highly-trained experts comprising Neurologists, Neurosurgeons, Interventional Neuroradiologists and Neuropsychologists.

The Clinic aims to create awareness on stroke and identifying stroke

symptoms through its “FAST” concept, which is:

F – Face weakness

A – Arm weakness

S – Speech difficulties

T – Time is crucial, call: 155218 for all stroke emergencies

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