STROKE – Killing People Silently

The demise of a renowned media man in Cebu, Philippines  Marlon Bellita has left many people awe in struck. Many never thought that he would die that soon and his passing has changed the 4 o’clock habit of his listeners, particularly the taxi drivers. He was well-loved by his listeners from all walks of life because his radio program “Rated R” allows people to laugh out loud even in the face of a huge problem.  He’s bluntly witty and this exudes in the way he delivers news and commentaries.

Marlon died of stroke and his death had been an eye opener especially for those who have the risk factors of this medical condition. His untimely death provoked a lot of questions in many people’s mind. Let’s try to figure out how stroke occurs and what can be done to lower your risk of suffering from stroke in the future.

What happens in stroke?

  by  ConstructionDealMkting 

Also known as cerebrovascular attack, stroke is the exact equivalent of cardiovascular attack or heart attack – a condition that occurs when the heart received inadequate blood. Stroke occurs when the brain receive little to no blood at all, causing brain cells to die. Cells need oxygen to survive, so if something disrupts the flow of blood to the brain, they become weak and eventually die. Depending on which part of the brain is affected, motor and cognitive functions may become impaired. Stroke can take the form of ischemic stroke or hemorrhagic stroke.

• Ischemic

Ischemic stroke is credited for over 80% of strokes that occur due to blood clot blocking the flow of blood towards the brain. The blockage could also be brought about by embolism, systemic hypoperfusion and venous thrombosis. Symptoms can be very subtle, short-lived and go unnoticed.

• Hemorrhagic

Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when the blood vessel ruptures and bleeds inside the brain, damaging nearby tissues. Symptoms usually occur suddenly and aggravate quickly. Hemorrhagic stroke causes severe headache, neck stiffness, nausea, vomiting, seizures, dizziness, confusion and even unconsciousness.

The odds of suffering from stroke are high among people who are:

• Obese
• Physically inactive
• Binge drinkers
• Smokers
• Diabetics
• Hypertensive (high blood pressure)

However, stroke can strike anyone regardless of age, gender and race. One cannot discount the possibility of suffering from it if a family member have suffered from stroke too because it run in the families.

How to lower the chances of suffering from stroke?

Whether or not you have the controllable or uncontrollable risk factors of strokes, you can do something to reduce your risk by:

• Exercise regularly for a healthy weight
• Cut down salt and fats
• Low-cholesterol but high-fiber diet
• Drink alcohol moderately
• Stress-management therapy

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension or some sort of heart disease, follow your doctor’s recommendation regarding medication and don’t forget to incorporate it with healthy living and diet. The onset of stroke symptoms should take you to the doctor’s office or the nearest hospital to receive timely medical intervention. Always remember that stroke causes tissue death which results in brain death – the eventual and permanent loss of all brain activities.