Stroke [cù], commonly known as “stroke”, is also known clinically as cerebrovascular accident. Stroke, the same as “sudden”, means hasty and rapid. The medical compendium. Stroke convulsions” explained: “Stroke, sudden unconsciousness, all like a dead body, but the gas does not die, the pulse moves as before. From the word meaning, it can be seen that the stroke occurs very quickly, and suddenly the patient is struck down by the disease. Did you know? Worldwide, more than 15 million people suffer from stroke each year. Of these, 5 million die and 5 million become disabled. Although most strokes occur in people over the age of 65, strokes can also occur in younger people. So what exactly is a stroke? The brain, just like the rest of the body, needs oxygen from the blood. When the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, brain cells become severely deprived of oxygen and damage occurs. The various clinical symptoms that follow are called strokes. The brain controls the entire body, so stroke symptoms are found throughout the body. The exact symptoms depend on where the brain tissue is damaged. If the stroke occurs here, the corners of the mouth will be crooked; here, weakness in the arms or legs and feet; here, difficulty speaking. There are many other symptoms, such as changes in vision, loss of balance, blurred consciousness, and memory loss. Sometimes stroke symptoms may be difficult to detect, but more often they are severe and lead to disability. If treated promptly, these symptoms can be reversed. This is why it is extremely important to seek medical attention quickly once a stroke is suspected. Keep in mind, FAST identification method 1. F-Face (face): Does one side of the face appear to be down and the corners of the mouth are crooked? Can you make smiling expressions? 2. A-Arms: Is there any weakness in the limbs? Can both arms be lifted? 3.S-Speech: Is there any slurred speech? 4. T-Time (time): If you notice any of the above symptoms, hurry up and call the emergency number. As soon as the ambulance arrives at the hospital, the doctor will immediately evaluate you, arrange for an emergency CT scan of the head, and determine the site and type of stroke that occurred. There are two types of stroke according to the cause of the abnormal blood supply to the brain: obstruction (ischemic stroke) and hemorrhage (hemorrhagic stroke). Most strokes are caused by obstruction of a blood vessel It is important to determine the type of stroke as early as possible. This is because different types of stroke are treated in very different ways. Ischemic strokes are mainly caused by fatty deposits in the blood vessels. Fatty deposits tend to form blood clots and block blood vessels, just like heart attacks . This is why strokes are also often referred to as brain attacks. Blood clots can form inside the skull or from other parts of the body. Clots outside the skull usually come from the neck, but can also come from the heart. Blood clots are likely to develop when there is an irregular heart rate, i.e., when atrial fibrillation (AF) occurs. If an ischemic stroke is detected in the first few hours, doctors usually give “clot-busting” drugs to dissolve the clot, called “thrombolysis”. If the patient is unable to use thrombolytics, other drugs such as aspirin may be used instead. A stroke caused by a sudden rupture or bleeding of a blood vessel is called a hemorrhagic stroke. Blood leaks out of the ruptured blood vessel into or around the brain. The leaking blood causes edema in the brain tissue. In severe cases, surgery is required. Sometimes, the clinical symptoms of stroke disappear completely within 24 hours. We call this a mini-stroke or transient ischemic attack, or TIA. some TIAs have symptoms that last only a few minutes. Once a TIA is suspected, it should also be treated like a full-blown stroke and must be taken to a doctor immediately. This is because a TIA is a high-risk warning sign for a full-blown stroke. Whether you have a TIA or a complete stroke, prompt medication, taken daily for life, will help prevent further episodes of stroke. Stroke can lead to disability, but over time, the brain can slowly adapt, adjust, and eventually regain some or all of its lost function. This is why “stroke rehabilitation” is so important. Rehabilitation can be a difficult process, but doctors, nurses and therapists are there to help you through it. If the stroke has caused difficulty in swallowing, the dietitian will recommend a special diet or feeding tube. If the stroke has caused communication difficulties, a speech and language therapist will give you help. If there is difficulty walking or taking care of yourself, a physiotherapist or occupational therapist can help you with physical training and adapting your home environment. After a stroke, you may feel depressed and frustrated when you have to rely on others for everything because it is difficult to perform actions that you could do easily before. This is where a counsellor can help, and many patients will be able to provide further support. Above, we have talked about the occurrence, recognition, treatment and recovery of stroke, but what can be done to prevent it? Even if you have had a stroke before, there are still step-by-step efforts you can take to reduce your risk of having another stroke in the future. Examples include: lowering your blood pressure to a normal range (high blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke), quitting smoking, lowering cholesterol, exercising more, eating a healthy diet, and reducing alcohol intake and drinking in moderation. If you also have diabetes, you should control your blood sugar. Finally, I hope you will remember the following two most important stroke principles: 1) Quick recognition and rapid medical attention: Time is brain. 2, early, continuous and correct rehabilitation: the brain has plasticity, early, continuous and correct rehabilitation training will help to better restore the patient’s partially or even completely lost functions.