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Busting 10 myths about Stroke

Busting 10 myths about Stroke

A stroke can have a massive impact on one’s life, so it is imperative to seek the best rehabilitation in Bangalore or anywhere in the world. Before we delve into the myths of stroke, let’s understand what’s the story behind it.

Stroke was first recognized over 2,400 years ago by Hippocrates. It was called apoplexy at that time which meant ‘struck down by violence’ in Greek. In those times, doctors didn’t have much understanding of the brain and its function, even the cause of stroke and how to treat it.

So, what is a stroke?

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted. It is also known as a “brain attack”. With so many people affected by stroke worldwide, many people are still confused about what a stroke is and where exactly it occurs. Many misconceptions surround this medical condition. So, let\’s bust them one by one.

Myth 1: Only elders get a stroke

Age doesn’t play a factor when it comes to a stroke. Anyone of any age can suffer from it. The factors that contribute to it are excessive drinking, smoking, obesity, diabetes, and family history. So, it is very important to stay educated and maintain a healthy lifestyle to avoid not just a stroke but any other disease for that matter.

Myth 2: A stroke is extremely painful

A stroke might not show any symptoms, at times, it can be silent. Some of the symptoms that indicate a stroke are difficulty in speaking or comprehending, weakness, paralysis in the face, arm, or leg, blurred or double vision, dizziness, and loss of balance and coordination. Few painful symptoms of a stroke are sudden, severe headaches that result in vomiting or loss of consciousness.

Myth 3: Immediate treatment is unnecessary for stroke

In case of a stroke, immediate medical attention is very crucial. Quick medical attention on the onset of the symptoms will increase the chances of stroke recovery. Within 3 hours of the symptoms, it is mandatory to provide thrombolytic therapy that involves giving a medication that dissolves the blood clots.

Myth 4: Occurrence of a stroke is rare

According to research, it is the second leading cause of death worldwide. The cases of stroke have increased quite alarmingly in India — more than 100% which is a very serious problem.

Myth 5: It’s not easy to detect a stroke

A stroke can happen to a person at any time. A simple test called BE FAST (Balance, Eyes, Face, Arm, Speech, Terrible headache) can be used to detect the onset of a stroke. Once the signs are identified, the next action is supposed to be immediate medical care. This will help in reducing any damage to the brain.

Myth 6: The heart is affected due to stroke

This is one of the most common misconceptions. A stroke is caused when the blood flow to the brain is interrupted. This happens when a clot escapes the heart and travels to the brain where it blocks the artery.

Myth 7: You can’t prevent a stroke

Yes, you can. All you need to do is maintain an active lifestyle and reduce bad habits like excessive drinking, smoking, and binge eating unhealthy food.

Myth 8: Stroke is not hereditary

Genetic factors do play a role in high BP, stroke, and other related conditions. A family history of stroke is likely to share common environments and other factors that increase their risk of stroke.

Myth 9: You can recover from stroke quickly

No, that’s not true. It takes a lot of time to recover from a stroke. Even if the treatment makes it better, that doesn’t mean you are out of risk. It is important for people who have suffered from stroke to control the risk factors that induced the stroke because it tends to come back into your life.

Myth 10: Mini strokes don’t need any treatment

Mini strokes, also known as Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), may come all of a sudden and exit quickly as well. But symptoms of TIA are similar to a stroke which means there will be numbness on one side of the body, vision problems, or slurred speech, but they will go away within 24 hours. Just because it goes away quickly doesn’t mean that the treatment needs to be ignored. An unattended TIA can result in a stroke.

A stroke can result in some critical damages to the human body. But the aftermath can be taken care of by undergoing the following therapies:

Stem Cell Therapy — A non-surgical procedure wherein stem cells are injected into the patient’s body to replace the damaged cells.

Physiotherapy — A treatment that improves the patient’s mobility, posture, and balance.

Occupational Therapy — This allows the patient to become independent by improving their capability to complete daily activities such as walking, having a meal, or taking a bath.

Speech Therapy — This helps the patient regain their communication skills through various techniques including non-verbal communication.

These treatments are vital for a stroke patient’s recovery and help them get on the road to a happy and healed life.

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