In the Prevention of stroke And its functional consequences, it is essential both the control of the risk factors and the immediate identification of the signs and symptoms of alarm.
Thus, various medical conditions (blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, cholesterol, etc.) and lifestyles (sedentary lifestyle, alcohol and tobacco consumption, etc.) have been identified that may increase the likelihood of having a stroke , However many of them are controllable.
A stroke or stroke is one of the most serious neurological pathologies, although this is a preventable medical condition.
In the United States, it is the main cause of functional disability and the third leading cause of death in the general population, however, there is a wide variety of factors that increase the likelihood of suffering this type of neurological pathology.
What is a stroke?
A stroke or stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain's arteries is significantly disrupted or reduced, or when there is bleeding in the brain or adjacent areas (National Stroke Association, 2016).
When this occurs, the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the brain is interrupted and therefore brain cells begin to deteriorate and die (Know Stroke, 2009).
Thus, in the case of stroke, cerebral blood flow can be disrupted for several reasons (Know Stroke, 2009):
- Obstruction or blockage of a cerebral blood vessel (blood clot, air bubble, tumor cells, accumulation of fatty substances, etc...).
- Blood spill inside the brain.
Based on this, we can distinguish two basic types of stroke or stroke (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2002):
- Ischemic stroke: This type of stroke occurs when a Clot / thrombus Which blocks or blocks a cerebral blood vessel.
- Hemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident (stroke): This type of stroke occurs when there is a rupture or bleeding from a cerebral blood vessel.
Specifically, ischemic strokes are the most frequent, accounting for approximately 80% of all cases, whereas hemorrhagic accidents represent the remaining 20% of cases (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2002).
Because of their neurological involvement, any of these types of stroke or stroke are a medical emergency and health care is crucial. Immediate intervention can reduce brain damage and secondary medical complications (Mayo Clinic, 2016).
Despite this, there is treatment for cerebrovascular accidents, in addition to a wide variety of factors that can be controlled to prevent their occurrence (Mayo Clinic, 2016).
About us
Worldwide, in 2015 about 17.5 million people died as a result of a stroke (WHO, 2015).
The Stroke Are the leading cause of death in women and the second in men. In addition, it is one of the most important causes of disability among the adult population (Spanish Federation of Brain Damage, 2016).
In Spain, more than 300,000 people live with a disability associated with a stroke (Spanish Brain Injury Federation, 2016).
In the case of the United States, approximately 780,000 people suffer from strokes every year. In addition, the risk doubles in the population over 55 (Know Stroke, 2009).
Is it possible to prevent a stroke?
In addition to identifying the signs and symptoms of alarm and the existence of different therapeutic interventions for the treatment of strokes, it is essential to take some measures that may be key to its prevention.
Medical specialists have identified a wide variety of risk factors that influence the likelihood of having a stroke.
Therefore, a risk factor is a condition, condition or behavior that increases the likelihood of certain diseases (Know Stroke, 2009).
Despite this, having a risk factor that is related to strokes does not mean that you will suffer unequivocally and in the same way, do not present a risk factor does not mean that you will not suffer any type of Stroke (Know Stroke, 2009).
Anyone can have a stroke, independently of their gender, age group or place of origin, or even suffer before birth People with diabetes can reduce the risk of having a stroke if they follow the directions of their doctors To control your blood sugar, blood pressure, blood pressure, cholesterol And weight.
However, many individuals are at higher risk for stroke than others (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2015).
Thus, some of the conditions associated with stroke, lifestyle or medical status can be modified (blood pressure, diabetes, consumption of alcohol and tobacco, cholesterol, etc.), while others are not modifiable ( Age, medical and family history, sex, etc...) (American Stroke Association, 2016).
to) Unmodifiable risk factors
Age
Strokes not only occur in older adults, they can occur in any age group (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2015).
However, the risk of stroke tends to increase with increasing age. Therefore, an older person has a higher risk of having a stroke than another person in the general population (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2015).
Specifically, from the age of 55 this risk of firing, doubling by each decade (American Stroke Association, 2016). People who reach age 65 are seven times more likely to have a stroke (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2015).
While it is true that strokes are more common among the elderly, a good number of cases occur in people under the age of 65 (American Stroke Association, 2016).
Family history
In addition to age, the risk of stroke may increase if a direct relative (father / mother, grandparent, brother / sister) has had one previously (American Stroke Association, 2016).
Many cases of stroke may be the product of disorders or genetic diseases such as autosomal dominant cerebral arteriopathy with subcortical infarctions and Leukoencephalopathy (ACADISL) (American Stroke Association, 2016).
ACADISL is a pathology caused by a genetic mutation that results in damage to the walls of the cerebral blood vessels, blocking normalized blood flow (American Stroke Association, 2016).
Many of the individuals with autosomal dominant cerebral arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy have a family history of the disease (American Stroke Association, 2016).
Specifically, a person suffering from ACADISL has a 50% chance of having a child with this same pathology (American Stroke Association, 2016).
In addition to this pathology, members of the same family may also have a genetic tendency to develop other risk factors related to strokes, such as the inheritance of predisposition to hypertension wave diabetes (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2015).
Sex
The risk of stroke is also influenced by sex (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2015).
Although men are at a higher risk for this type of disease (1.25 times more likely), it is women who have a higher mortality rate (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2015).
Because of the shorter male life expectancy, men have to be younger when they suffer strokes, therefore their survival rate is higher than that of women (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2015).
In women, in addition, contraceptive use, pregnancy, gestational diabetes, postmenopausal hormone therapy, etc., can significantly increase the incidence of stroke in women (American Stroke Association, 2016).
Race
The likelihood of having a stroke can also vary between different ethnic and racial groups (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2015).
African Americans have a higher risk of dying due to the occurrence of a stroke (American Stroke Association, 2016).
Specifically, twice as many African-Americans as Caucasian Americans die from stroke, this is mainly due to the increased risk of diabetes, obesity, or high blood pressure that exists in the population of Color (American Stroke Association, 2016).
However, in the general population aged 55 or older, the likelihood of stroke is equivalent for both racial groups (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2015).
On the other hand, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (2015) also notes that Americans of Eastern origin (Japan, China, etc...) also have a higher rate of incidence and mortality from strokes than those of origin continental.
Previous stroke
The risk of having a stroke for a person who has already had some type of accident or cerebrovascular event is much higher compared to the general population (American Stroke Association, 2016).
For example, transient ischemic attacks (TIA) are a type of stroke in which blood flow is momentarily discontinued and neurological symptoms have to disappear within a time frame of less than one hour (Martínez-Vila et al .
Many medical specialists point out that Transient ischemic attacks Constitute a"warning"of a possible future stroke (American Stroke Association, 2016).
In this way, a person who has suffered one or more TIAs is about 10 times more likely to have another stroke than the person of the same sex and age who has not had them (American Stroke Association, 2016).
B) Modifiable risk factors: medical conditions
Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease in which there is a high level of blood glucose. If untreated, the abnormal increase in glucose in the body can damage multiple organs: eyes, kidneys, nerve structures, etc... (National Institutes of Health, 2014).
In addition, diabetes is one of the medical pathologies that increase the likelihood of stroke, specifically triple the risk of occurrence (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2015).
It is therefore essential for people with diabetes to undergo rigorous medical management as they can reduce the risk of stroke occurring following medical advice, controlling blood sugar levels and following rigorous therapeutic recommendations (Know Stroke, 2009).
Hypertension
Hypertension is a medical condition in which there is a high blood pressure (The force that the blood pumped from the heart exerts against the walls of the aterials), that is to say when it reaches a value equal or superior to 120 / 80mmHg (National Institutes of Health, 2015).
High blood pressure is the leading cause of strokes and one of the most controllable risk factors (American Stroke Association, 2016).
Specifically, people with hypertension are six times more likely to have a stroke (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2015).
The use of antihypertensive drugs by medical prescription can reduce the risk of stroke in the case of the incidence rate by 38%, while in the case of 40% mortality (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2015).
Heart diseases
Some cardiac pathologies such as atrial fibrillation or cardiac malformations can also significantly increase the risk of stroke (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2015).
Atrial fibrillation is a pathology in which there is a disturbance of the heart rhythm- The upper areas of the heart have to tremble instead of beating effectively, which increases the heart rate and allows the accumulation of blood and clots that can move towards The brain (American Stroke Association, 2016).
Other heart diseases, such as malformations in the muscle or heart valves, can also double the risk of stroke occurrence (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2015).
When you have heart disease, you are twice as likely to have a stroke and therefore, it is essential that you follow medical and therapeutic prescriptions (Know Stroke, 2009).
Arterial diseases
Specifically, the carotid arteries are responsible for redirecting blood flow to the brain. If any of these arteries are narrowed by the presence of fat deposits, arteriosclerosis may develop (American Stroke Association, 2016).
In the Arteriosclerosis , The presence of plaques or deposits of fat, can block the artery and therefore disrupt cerebral blood flow, leading to stroke (American Stroke Association, 2016).
Cholesterol
People with high cholesterol have an increased risk of stroke (American Stroke Association, 2016).
The accumulation of Lipoproteins In the walls that form the arteries, can lead to the development of atherosclerosis or carotid stenosis (American Stroke Association, 2016).
A person who has high cholesterol levels should design a healthy diet and exercise regularly to reduce both total cholesterol levels and the risk of stroke (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2015).
C) Modifiable risk factors: lifestyle
Diet
Diets high in saturated fats, sodium, or excess calories may contribute to the development of cholesterol, increase blood pressure and obesity, and thus increase the likelihood of a stroke (American Stroke Association, 2016) .
To control this factor, it is necessary to design a balanced and nutritious diet, that is to say, a diet with less fatty components, based on vegetables and fruits (American Stroke Association, 2016).
The Spanish Federation of Brain Injury Acquired (2014), resumes consumption of the Mediterranean diet, which is characterized by foods of plant origin, olive oil as main fat, moderate consumption of fish, poultry, dairy products and eggs and The intake of small amounts of red meat.
Physical exercise
Absence or Lack of physical activity May increase the likelihood of developing multiple medical pathologies such as obesity, hypercholesterolemia, heart disease, hypertension or stroke (American Stroke Association, 2016).
Regular exercise on a regular basis is essential to improve both physical and cognitive health (Spanish Federation of Acquired Brain Damage, 2014).
Therefore, changing a sedentary lifestyle by physical activity contributes to lower cholesterol levels and control some heart conditions such as hypertension.
Obesity
Being overweight contributes to a multitude of medical conditions that can significantly reduce quality of life and life expectancy.
The consumption of a balanced diet and the realization of physical exercise of form lead to an effective control of the corporal weight.
Smoking
Numerous studies and research have shown that Smoking Is an important factor for stroke (American Stroke Association, 2016).
The entry of carbon monoxide and nicotine into the body contributes to the development of various medical pathologies that significantly increase the chances of having a stroke (American Stroke Association, 2016).
Smoking contributes to increased blood pressure, decreases tolerance to physical exercise, and values of HDL or"good"cholesterol (Know Stroke, 2009).
The Spanish Federation of Acquired Brain Damage (2014) points out that quitting smoking means improving lung capacity, blood circulation and taste and smell.
Alcohol consumption
He Excessive alcohol consumption Is another factor that contributes to the occurrence of strokes.
In general, the increase in alcohol intake causes a rise in blood pressure, another of the risk factors for stroke.
However, moderate consumption of alcohol, for example, a glass of wine, can act as an antioxidant and be beneficial to the circulatory system (Spanish Federation of Acquired Brain Damage, 2014)
Bibliography
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