What is a Stroke and Why is it Important?
Stroke is a condition that occurs when the blood flow to the brain is suddenly cut off, referred to in the medical literature as “cerebrovascular disease”. This causes brain cells to become damaged or die due to the inability to receive oxygen and nutrients to certain areas of the brain. Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and permanent disability worldwide. Therefore, recognizing the signs of stroke and intervening early is vital.
Stroke Symptoms and Early Intervention
Recognizing the signs of a stroke is critical for timely intervention. The basic signs of a stroke include:
- Sudden Facial Asymmetry: Sudden falling or slipping of one side of the face.
- Weakness in the Arm or Leg: Sudden loss of strength in a limb.
- Disturbance in speech: A person suddenly develops a speech disorder or difficulty speaking.
- Difficulty Understanding or Responding: A person has difficulty understanding events around them.
- Severe Headache: A sudden, severe headache in someone who has never had a headache before.
- Visual Impairment: Sudden loss of vision or blurred vision in one or both eyes.
If any of these symptoms are seen, the person should be stabilized immediately and the emergency service 112 should be called. Loss of time can have serious consequences in stroke treatment.
Increased Risk of Stroke in Young People
Traditionally, stroke is thought of as a disease that occurs mostly in older people, but recent studies have shown that stroke cases are also increasing significantly in young people. In particular, the ischemic stroke rate in individuals between the ages of 18 and 44 has increased by 14,6% in the last decade. This increase is due to lifestyle changes brought about by the digital age.
Spending long periods of time in front of a screen, a sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy eating habits and stress are the main factors that increase the risk of stroke in young people. In addition, social isolation and digital addiction are among the factors that negatively affect the health of young people.
Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Stroke Diagnosis
In recent years, advances in health technologies have provided revolutionary innovations in the diagnosis and treatment of stroke. Artificial intelligence-supported imaging systems, in particular, provide great convenience in emergency services. These systems analyze brain tomography scans in seconds and provide information to healthcare teams quickly.
Artificial intelligence applications enable automatic analysis of tomography and MRI images, facilitating access to diagnosis by non-physician healthcare personnel in emergency services and accelerating treatment decisions. This increases the chance of starting the treatment process earlier and preserving brain tissue.
Methods to Reduce Stroke Risk
Stroke is a health problem that can be prevented not only during a crisis but also before it occurs. Below are some methods that can be used to reduce the risk of stroke:
- Regular Exercise: Exercising for at least 150 minutes a week protects heart health and reduces the risk of stroke.
- Healthy eating: Adopting a low-fat, high-fiber diet keeps blood pressure and cholesterol levels under control.
- Limiting Smoking and Alcohol Use: It is important to limit smoking and excessive alcohol consumption as they increase the risk of stroke.
- Reducing Screen Time: Staring at a computer or phone screen for long periods of time leads to a sedentary lifestyle, increasing the risk of stroke.
- Regular Sleep and Stress Management: Getting enough sleep and developing stress management strategies improves overall health.
Why is Early Intervention in Stroke Vital?
Early intervention in stroke treatment is critical to minimizing brain damage and preventing permanent disabilities. Recognizing stroke symptoms and timely referral to the emergency department directly affects the success of the treatment process. Therefore, increasing stroke awareness in society and providing accurate information should be among the primary goals of health institutions.
The Turkish Cerebrovascular Diseases Association aims to raise public awareness by conducting important studies on this issue. The “Stroke Cure Early Intervention” campaign draws attention to the importance of recognizing stroke symptoms and early intervention. This campaign aims to reduce life-threatening risks by providing accurate information to the public about stroke.
Conclusion
Stroke is a serious health problem that can be prevented with timely intervention. Recognizing its symptoms is of great importance for early diagnosis and treatment. Innovations in health technologies offer significant advantages in the diagnosis and treatment of stroke. Raising public awareness and adopting healthy lifestyle habits play a critical role in reducing the risk of stroke.
