October 29th is World Stroke Day (Cerebral Vascular Accident), with the main objective of alerting the population to the symptoms and prevention methods. Unfortunately, death from stroke is one of the main causes of death in Portugal, therefore, its prevention through the adoption of a healthy lifestyle is essential.
Stroke is a sudden neurological deficit, often caused by ischemia, a deficiency in blood supply, or by hemorrhage in the brain. To prevent stroke, healthy lifestyle habits must be adopted, avoiding tobacco and a sedentary lifestyle, paying special attention to diseases such as hypertension, diabetes or cardiac arrhythmias, as stroke continues to be one of the main causes of death in Portugal.
This disease has a significant impact on a person's functional, cognitive and social level, with implications for family dynamics. A person who was previously independent can suddenly become completely physically and financially dependent on their family members or caregivers.
Therefore, it is crucial that people know the risk factors for stroke, such as: heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, among others, as well as the main signs of stroke, such as: tingling in the face or limb , difficulty speaking, lack of strength in an arm or leg, difficulty swallowing, mouth “to the side”, change in vision, loss of memory.
The first hours after the onset of stroke symptoms are essential for helping the victim, as “this is the time window that guarantees the effectiveness of the main treatments”, highlights INEM. In Portugal, the high number of stroke cases is related to a high prevalence of high blood pressure, especially that which is not diagnosed or controlled, and is also associated with excessive salt consumption.