A stroke is dangerous, but can it be prevented?

Professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Bui Ngoc Phuong Hoa - General Internal Medicine - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.

According to WHO, hemorrhagic stroke is the third leading cause of death in developed countries, after cardiovascular disease and cancer. A stroke is very dangerous, but fortunately most stroke risk factors are modifiable, so you can take proactive steps to prevent the disease. Here are the knowledge about stroke and how to prevent it effectively.

Stroke (cerebrovascular accident) is a condition of serious brain damage caused by interruption of the cerebral blood supply process, causing the brain to lack oxygen and not enough nutrients to nourish brain cells. If not treated promptly, stroke patients can be life-threatening, or experience sequelae such as paralysis, aphasia, emotional disturbances...
Two main types of stroke include: Ischemic stroke accounts for 85% of all strokes and hemorrhagic strokes.
Worldwide, every 40 seconds a patient has a stroke, every 3 minutes there is a death of a stroke. According to statistics of the Vietnam Association for the Prevention of Cerebrovascular Accident, our country has about 200,000 stroke patients every year.
Acute stroke is especially dangerous because of its high mortality risk, up to 50%, fast death time, life-saving cases can have severe sequelae, expensive treatment costs and recurrence rate. high.

Acute stroke is very dangerous, but fortunately 80% of stroke risk factors are preventable. Risk factors for stroke include:
Risk factors that cannot be changed:
Age, especially people over 45 years of age, Gender, stroke is more common in men than women Race Genetics

Modifiable risk factors:
High blood pressure . Good blood pressure treatment will reduce the risk and sequelae of stroke. Diabetes: Everyone over the age of 40 should have regular health checks to detect the risk of diabetes early, so that appropriate treatment can be taken. Dyslipidemia (RLLM) Atherosclerosis: Atherosclerosis will gradually narrow the vessel lumen, possibly causing occlusion. Therefore, stabilizing atherosclerosis plays an important role in stroke prevention. Obesity: Losing weight is very important in preventing stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes... Smoking Drinking a lot of alcohol Brain aneurysm is a common cause of hemorrhagic stroke. Cerebral arteriovenous and venous malformations Using oral contraceptives (progesterone), male hormones (testosterone) Cardiovascular disease: In patients with cardiovascular disease, blood can easily clot to form clots in the atria, a risk of cerebral embolism. cause stroke.

To prevent stroke, besides controlling and treating risk factors, patients can apply the following preventive measures:
Regular health check-up every 3-6 months Periodic health check-up helps early detection of diseases, thereby taking timely treatment measures, bringing optimal efficiency. To monitor the disease, it is necessary to take medicine according to the doctor's prescription, only stop using the drug when prescribed by the doctor.
Change lifestyle No smoking, abstaining from alcohol, building a healthy diet, exercising, keeping a good mind, reducing stress... are measures that can help you prevent stroke and have a better life.
Exercise regularly Exercising at least 40 minutes/day, 3 days/week with exercises such as: walking, running, swimming, taking stairs... can help you lose weight, reduce risk high blood pressure and stroke.
Control blood pressure High blood pressure can quadruple the risk of stroke. Therefore, controlling blood pressure is extremely important for stroke and how to prevent it.
Reasonable diet Limit salt, processed foods, add more fruits and vegetables that contain beneficial potassium such as bananas, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, beans... Supplement low in dairy products Fat, omega 3, fiber, green vegetables, whole grains... are recommended to prevent the risk of stroke.

Treatment of high-risk diseases Diseases that increase the risk of stroke include Diabetes, high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, cardiovascular disease... Patients need to be treated according to the doctor's instructions, using the right medication. ways, combined with adherence to diet and exercise to prevent stroke.
Besides, the screening will help detect stroke early, so that the treatment plan can achieve optimal results. Currently, Magnetic Resonance Imaging - MRI/MRA is considered a "golden" tool to screen for brain stroke. MRI is used to check the condition of most organs in the body, especially valuable in detailed imaging of the brain or spinal nerves. Due to the good contrast and resolution, MRI images allow to detect abnormalities hidden behind bone layers that are difficult to recognize with other imaging methods. MRI can give more accurate results than X-ray techniques (except for DSA angiography) in diagnosing brain diseases, cardiovascular diseases, strokes,... Moreover, the process MRI scans do not cause side effects like X-rays or computed tomography (CT) scans.\
Vinmec International General Hospital currently owns a 3.0 Tesla MRI system equipped with state-of-the-art equipment by GE. Healthcare (USA) with high image quality, allows comprehensive assessment, does not miss the injury but reduces the time taken to take pictures. Silent technology helps to reduce noise, create comfort and reduce stress for the client during the shooting process, resulting in better image quality and shorter imaging time. With the state-of-the-art MRI system With the application of modern methods of cerebral vascular intervention, a team of experienced and well-trained neurologists and radiologists, Vinmec is a prestigious address for stroke risk screening and screening. reliable goods.
In the past time; Vinmec has successfully treated many cases of stroke in a timely manner, leaving no sequelae: saving the life of a patient suffering from 2 consecutive strokes; Responding to foreign female tourists to escape the "death door" of a stroke ;...