Risk factors for stroke and prevention
Stroke is a common and frequent disease in neurology. In China, stroke is the third most common cause of death after cardiovascular disease and cancer, and its high disability and mortality rates impose a huge economic burden on society and families. With the aging of the population, its incidence is increasing year by year and tends to be younger. At present, the treatment effect of stroke is far from satisfactory. Therefore, the prevention of stroke is very important and should be given our attention.
Prevention of stroke includes primary prevention and secondary prevention. Primary prevention refers to the prevention of cerebrovascular disease by controlling the risk factors of people who are already at risk of cerebrovascular disease. Secondary prevention refers to preventive measures for patients who already have cerebrovascular disease to prevent recurrence.
Factors of disease are divided into non-interventionable and interventionable factors. Non-intervention factors can be age, gender, race, genetic factors, etc.; while intervention factors, the following risk factors for stroke have been identified commonly.
1, hypertension: arterial hypertension is the most common and intervenable risk factor for stroke. A randomized analysis has shown that a reduction in diastolic blood pressure of only 5-6 mmHg can reduce stroke by 42%. Blood pressure control in people over 60 years of age with purely elevated systolic blood pressure (>160 mmHg) can reduce the incidence by 36%. The normal blood pressure is considered to be 140/85 mmHg to 120/70 mmHg, but do not lower it too fast! Because a sharp decrease in blood pressure can also trigger cerebrovascular disease. Once the diagnosis of hypertension, when the lifelong medication, blood pressure often measured, adjust the medication when necessary, always maintain normal blood pressure.
2. Diabetes mellitus: It is now considered an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke. Therefore, strict control of diabetes can reduce the incidence of stroke. In fact, for type 2 diabetes, leech-urea and insulin therapy can improve microvascular complications and thus reduce the occurrence of cardio-cerebrovascular disease. The risk of stroke is greater in the presence of hypertension. If oral medication cannot effectively control blood glucose, insulin should be used as soon as possible under the guidance of physicians if the indications are met.
3. Heart disease: Heart damage due to various causes is also a major risk factor for stroke. Rheumatic heart disease, coronary heart disease, hypertensive heart disease, congenital heart disease and arrhythmias due to various reasons can increase the risk of stroke, especially ischemic stroke. The risk of stroke increases fivefold in those with atrial fibrillation. Patients with coronary artery disease also have a 4-6 times higher chance of having a cerebral infarction than those without coronary artery disease.
4, smoking: smoking is an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke, mainly in long-term smokers, whose risk of stroke is 6 times higher than that of nonsmokers. The risk of stroke can be reduced by 50% after quitting smoking. In addition, smoking can also cause subarachnoid hemorrhage, and the risk increases with the amount of smoking.
5, drinking alcohol: a small amount of alcohol does not increase the risk of stroke, and many researchers even believe that alcohol is a protective factor against stroke because of its slight vasodilating effect. However, long-term excessive alcohol consumption, especially alcohol abuse is certainly prone to hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease. The current recommended daily alcohol intake for adult men is no more than 24 grams of ethanol, equivalent to 500 ml of beer or 60 ml of 40-proof white wine or 200 ml of fruit wine. Adult women should drink no more than 12 grams of ethanol per day.
6, hyperlipidemia: elevated blood lipids have been identified as a risk factor for stroke. Especially in people aged <45 years, the incidence of stroke increases significantly with the increase of cholesterol level. Recently, several foreign authorities have found that the treatment of hypercholesterolemia with statin drugs is effective in reducing stroke mortality.
7. Physical activity: moderate physical activity appears to reduce the risk of stroke. Recently, a prospective cohort study of men found that physical activity at intensities such as sweating reduced the risk of stroke. Physical activity indirectly reduces the risk of stroke by affecting body weight, blood pressure, plasma cholesterol, and glucose tolerance.
8. Other factors: obesity, high platelet aggregation, high salt intake, long-term oral contraceptive use, homocysteinemia, dramatic climate changes, dramatic emotional changes, certain diseases such as large bone fractures, inflammatory changes due to various infections, connective tissue disease, allergic arteritis, drug abuse, cervical spondylosis, etc. are all considered risk factors for stroke.
There are many precursors to the occurrence of stroke, the most common of which are mainly 12.
1. dizziness, especially a sudden feeling of vertigo.
2. Numbness of the limbs, suddenly feeling numbness on one side of the face or hands and feet, some tongue numbness, lip numbness.
3. Temporary slurred speech or speech failure.
4. Weakness or inability to move the limbs.
5. Headache that is different from usual.
6. Sudden fall or fainting for unknown reasons.
7. Temporary loss of consciousness or sudden change in personality and intelligence.
8. Significant weakness of the whole body and weakness of the limbs.
9. Nausea and vomiting or fluctuation of blood pressure.
10 Drowsiness throughout the day ——- drowsiness.
11. Involuntary twitching of one side or one limb.
12. Sudden but temporary indistinctness of things.
If everyone understands the various aura before the stroke attack, after the appearance of the aura that is alert, you can effectively avoid the occurrence of stroke. Because once a stroke occurs, the treatment is not as effective as it should be! Prevention is very important! When the aura of stroke appears, the change of blood pressure should be monitored at any time; if the blood pressure is too high, appropriate antihypertensive drugs should be administered; if the blood pressure is too low, antihypertensive drugs should be discontinued; when the family reunion is held on holidays, the elderly should not be overworked and excessive drinking should be avoided; those who are emotional, have severe headache and poor sleep should be given sedatives in time to facilitate rest; if necessary, electrocardiogram should be performed to treat heart diseases that may cause stroke. It is very important to emphasize that once the aura appears, it is necessary to consult the neurology department in time for early diagnosis and treatment; based on years of experience, we have concluded the prevention and treatment principle of cerebrovascular disease: “early prevention, early treatment, early recovery”!
To achieve early treatment, early rescue at home is very important. Whether a stroke patient is rescued at home in time after the onset of stroke, and whether the treatment is appropriate, is crucial to the prognosis of the patient. The following points should be noted when giving first aid to stroke patients at home.
1. Do not panic and be nervous after finding the patient, but remain calm, let the patient lie flat in bed, and contact the hospital or emergency center as soon as possible.
2, stroke can be divided into hemorrhagic stroke and ischemic stroke, do not use drugs when the diagnosis is not clear, because different types of strokes use different drugs.
3.Master the correct way to carry the patient. First of all, do not rush to pick up the patient from the ground, it is best 2 —-3 people at the same time the patient flat to the bed, head slightly elevated to avoid vibration; secondly, loosen the patient’s collar, remove the dentures, vomiting patients should be tilted to the side of the head to avoid vomit blocking the trachea and asphyxiation; again, if there is a convulsive seizure can be used chopsticks or small wooden strips wrapped in gauze pad between the upper and lower teeth to prevent biting the tongue; finally, the patient When symptoms such as shortness of breath and phlegm in the throat appear, plastic or rubber tubes can be inserted into the patient’s throat and the phlegm can be sucked out by mouth from the other end.
4. Minimize moving the patient before sending him to hospital. When transferring patients, use a stretcher to carry them horizontally. If the patient is carried from upstairs, head should face up and feet should face down to reduce cerebral congestion. On the way to the hospital, the family can gently hold the patient’s head with both hands to avoid head bumps.
5. For patients with deep coma and irregular breathing, ask the doctor to observe and treat them at home first, and then send them to hospital after their condition is stabilized.
6.Most of the patients with ischemic stroke are conscious and should be prevented from excessive grief and anxiety. At this time, the patient should be allowed to lie down and be comforted. At the same time, do some limb massage, which can promote blood circulation and prevent further drop of blood pressure and aggravation of ischemia.
At present, our Yancheng City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine is a leader in the treatment of cerebrovascular disease in the region! The main advantage of traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture, Chinese medicine, combined with modern medical first aid, rehabilitation technology, summed up a unique and effective system of comprehensive rescue and rehabilitation program! The specific methods are: “Minimally invasive hematoma removal for cerebral hemorrhage”, “Ultra-early intravenous thrombolysis for ischemic stroke”, “Cerebrospinal fluid replacement”, “Low energy He-Ne laser endovascular irradiation,” “neuropropulsion technology,” “biofeedback therapy,” “exercise therapy,” and Occupational therapy”, “ultra-early acupuncture treatment”, “psychological rehabilitation”, etc. are used according to the condition. The advantages and characteristics of “good efficacy, short course and low cost” are clearly reflected. Our hospital has very high-end and complete equipment related to cerebrovascular diseases, including multi-row spiral CT, MRI, color Doppler, large biochemical instrument, etc. The level of examination is fully adapted to the latest progress in the diagnosis and treatment of cerebrovascular diseases. Phone number: 0515-88928049 We will be happy to serve you!