[Beware of Stroke]‼⚠

Stroke, also known as “cerebral apoplexy” or “cerebral stroke“, it is an acute cerebrovascular disease. It’s also considered as “Geriatric disease”. Stroke has five major characteristics which are high incidence, high disability rate, high mortality rate, high recurrence rate, and high economic burden.

In Malaysia, there are more than 40,000 stroke cases and leading around 14,000 deaths in a year. In recent years, there have a serious number which is 9.77% of all cases that had affecting by stroke under 35 years old. Due to unhealthy lifestyles, a large number of people suffer from high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases are major risk factors for stroke.

Stroke can be classified into two types which are ischemic stroke dan hemorrhagic stroke.

• Ischemic Stroke: This occurs when cholesterol deposits accumulate on the walls of brain blood vessels. These plaques can lead to the formation of blood clots, causing the blood vessels to narrow or become blocked, which reduces or interrupts the blood supply to the brain.
• Hemorrhagic Stroke: This occurs when a brain blood vessel leaks or ruptures due to diseases like high blood pressure or brain aneurysms.

A stroke often strikes without warning. Here are six major symptoms of stroke:

1. Numbness or weakness on one side of the face, drooling
2. Mouth drooping to one side
3. Slurred speech, difficulty expressing oneself, or trouble understanding others
4. Sudden dizziness, unsteady standing, temporary vision problems, transient blackouts, or blurred vision
5. Inability to lift both arms parallelly, weakness in one arm, sudden numbness in arms or legs
6. Sudden memory loss of recent events, unbearable headache with symptoms worsening over time, accompanied by nausea or vomiting

Particularly, certain bad habits in our daily lives can “accelerate” the likelihood of having a stroke. These habits include staying up late, consuming high-salt or high-sugar foods, excessive alcohol consumption, and psychological stress.

Here are some recommendations for preventing stroke：

1. Maintain a healthy diet: Reduce salt intake and eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes to help control blood pressure.
2. Maintain a healthy weight: Keep a proper weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise to reduce the risk of stroke.
3. Exercise regularly: Regular exercise helps control weight, lower blood pressure, and improve blood circulation.
4. Control blood pressure: Monitor your blood pressure regularly and keep it within a normal range.
5. Control cholesterol and blood sugar: Manage high cholesterol and diabetes through diet and medication.
6. Quit smoking: Quitting smoking can significantly reduce the risk of stroke.
7. Limit alcohol intake: Avoid excessive drinking.
8. Manage stress: Maintain good mental health by reducing stress through meditation, yoga, deep breathing exercises, etc.
9. Regular check-ups: Have regular health check-ups, especially if there is a family history of stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc., to identify and manage potential risk factors early.
10. Take medication: Follow your doctor’s advice on taking antihypertensive, lipid-lowering, or antithrombotic medications to reduce the risk of stroke.

By following these measures, you can effectively prevent the occurrence of stroke. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is key. If you experience any symptoms or have health concerns, consult a doctor promptly and take appropriate action.