Health Tips Tuesday: Stroke Awareness Month

© WGGB - Provided by Western Massachusetts Health Board . Tuesday: Stroke Awareness Month

(WGGB/WSHM) - Today is Stroke Awareness Month and Dr., a neurologist at Baystate Health. Sharjil Panjwani spoke to Western Mass News and gave some helpful tips on how to know when people might be having a stroke.

What is a stroke?

Panjwani: “There are basically two types of shots. One of them is called an ischemic stroke, a blood vessel is blocked and the brain is damaged. Second, when a blood vessel bursts and causes bleeding in the brain. In both cases, brain damage occurs, which can lead to disability and even death.

What are the signs that a person is having a stroke?

Panjwani: “One of the most popular mnemonics we use in the world is called FAST. "F" stands for "face": a person who develops sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the face. "A" stands for Arm: Weakness or numbness on one side of the body. "S" stands for speech disorder: A person may have difficulty understanding, slurred speech, or slurred speech. "T" stands for time: time is important. These are some of the main symptoms of a stroke, but apart from that, if someone suddenly has a severe headache, dizziness, or difficulty walking, these are some of the symptoms of a stroke. The answer is always to call 911 and get to the hospital as soon as possible.

Why is timing so important during a stroke?

Panjwani: “In the medical world, we use the phrase 'time is the brain' because every minute a person has a stroke, about 1.9 million neurons (brain cells) die. The sooner you get to the hospital, the better treatment we can offer patients.

Is there anything we can do to prevent stroke?

Panjwani: “When you think about brain health, it's very similar to heart health. The most important thing is a healthy lifestyle that allows you to reduce the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol. Eating foods rich in fiber can help reduce the risk of stroke. If you smoke, stop. If you don't smoke, don't start. Limiting the amount of alcohol you drink can help. It is recommended that men drink no more than two glasses a day, and women no more than one. If someone has high blood pressure, it is one of the main risk factors for stroke, so it is very important to take medication for it on time. One of the biggest risk factors for our population is what is known as atrial fibrillation, which means that if the heart is out of sync, the blood will not flow, which can lead to blood clots. hit Finally, always take your medications on time, especially if you are taking blood thinners or antiplatelet medications such as aspirin, because if you miss a dose and your blood is not thin enough, it can result in a stroke. Here are some things we can do to prevent stroke.

Stroke Awareness Month: Mayo Clinic Radio