Recognizing and preventing stroke

Do you feel sudden numbness on your face, arm or leg on one side of the body? Do you have sudden vision and speech problems? Do you experience difficulty in walking? Do you feel dizzy and lose balance and coordination? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need to consult your doctor immediately to rule out a stroke.

Stroke is a medical emergency and a potentially life-threatening complication. According to the World Health Organization, it is one of the leading causes of death and disability around the world, affecting an estimated 20 million people every year.

Health experts say that understanding the risk factors that cause stroke may help reduce its occurrence, particularly in those with multiple risk factors in whom preventive measures can be most beneficial.

The known risk factors for stroke include modifiable ones such as high blood pressure, diabetes, dyslipidemia or abnormal cholesterol level, smoking and uncontrolled stress.

These factors are called modifiable because certain lifestyle changes can be done to prevent them, thus reducing the risk of stroke. 

The non-modifiable risk factors include old age, male gender or sex, and strong family history for cardiovascular disease.

“Although innovations in medical and surgical treatment to reduce the damage from stroke are promising, prevention remains the most effective deterrent against stroke. Nutrition and lifestyle changes play a major role in the prevention of these risk factors,” said neurologist Dr. Rosie Lu-Koh.

According to the National Stroke Association (NSA), 80 percent of stroke is preventable. Below are the preventive guidelines for stroke set by the NSA:

• Know your blood pressure.

• Find out if you have atrial fibrillation (an abnormal heart rhythm).

• If you smoke, stop.

• If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.

• Find out if you have high cho­lesterol

• If you are diabetic, be extra careful and control risk factors.

• Exercise.

• Enjoy a lower sodium (salt), lower fat diet.

• Find out if you have blood problems.

• Know the symptoms of stroke.

For patients with previous history of stroke, doctors recommend daily intake of aspirin for therapy. Low-doses of aspirin are recommended for patients who have already suffered from stroke.

A study published in the May 2007 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) showed that low-dose aspirin is as effective for the heart as higher doses and does not have any gastric side effects.

Lead author Dr. Charles Campbell of the University of Kentucky in Lexington and his colleagues made a review of relevant studies and found out that while aspirin doses as high as 1,300 mg per day are approved for clinical use, scientific data indicated that doses as low as 30 mg per day can prevent cardiovascular events like stroke.

A low dose (30 mg) aspirin that is made to match the daily dose needed for heart protection is available nationwide under the brand name Cor-30. The efficacy of the heart-shaped Cor-30 is comparable with its higher dose counterparts with minimal gastric adverse effect. Patients are advised to consult their doctor for the best medicine for their condition.