Debunking 7 Myths on Stroke

Globally, stroke is the second leading cause of mortality accounting for around 11% of the deaths. Although stroke is very common amongst people yet it is frequently misunderstood. Here are some common misconceptions about stroke:

• Stroke is irreversible

Hypertension, smoking, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, head or neck injuries, and cardiac arrhythmias are the most prevalent risk factors for stroke.

Many of these risk factors are modifiable by changing one's lifestyle. Regular exercise and a nutritious diet can help to lower risk factors like hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes.

• Stroke is a heart problem

Some individuals believe that a stroke is a cardiac condition. No, you are mistaken!. A stroke is a brain disorder caused by a blockage of arteries or veins in the brain rather than the heart.

Although cardiovascular risk factors are associated with stroke risk, strokes occur in the brain, not the heart.

• A mini-stroke isn’t dangerous

The word "ministroke" has been misused because some people believe it refers to minor strokes with less risk. A ministroke is a transitory ischemic attack(TIA), hence that statement is false 

It's not a minor stroke, but a forewarning that a major one is on the way. Any symptom of acute stroke, whether fleeting or persistent, necessitates immediate evaluation and treatment to avoid a potentially fatal massive stroke.

• Stroke never runs in the family

Single-gene disorders, including sickle cell disease, raise the chance of a stroke. Stroke risk may be indirectly increased by genetic factors such as a significant probability of hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors.

Because families share environments and behaviours, poor lifestyle behaviours are more likely to raise stroke risk amongst family members, particularly when combined with genetic factors.

• Stroke is untreatable

There is a common misconception that strokes are permanent and untreatable.

In many patients, emergency treatment of a stroke with an injection of a clot-busting drug, noninvasive mechanical thrombectomy for clot expulsion, or surgery can overcome the symptoms of a stroke, notably if they come to the hospital sooner enough for the therapy.

The longer the symptoms linger, the less likely a positive outcome is. As a result, as soon as stroke symptoms appear — such as difficulty speaking, blurred vision, paralysis or numbness, for example — an ambulance should be summoned for transport to the nearest hospital.

• Stroke leads to Paralysis

Although stroke is a primary cause of long-term impairment, not everyone who has one experiences paralysis. Stroke reduces mobility in more than half of stroke patients aged 65 and older, according to research.

The long-term effects of stroke, on the other hand, depend on several factors, including the proportion of brain tissue damaged and the area impacted. For example, impairment to the left brain will impact the right side of the body and vice versa.

• Every stroke has symptoms

Not all strokes develop symptoms, and some studies imply that silent strokes are significantly more common than those that do. After a ruptured blood artery, proof of these silent strokes shows on MRI scans as white patches from scarred tissue.

MRI scans for symptoms such as headaches, cognitive difficulties, and dizziness are frequently used to detect silent strokes. Despite the fact that they don't pose symptoms, they should be managed the same as for strokes. People who have silent strokes are at risk for symptomatic strokes, cognitive impairment, and dementia in the future.

If you are looking for stem cell therapy for stroke, then get in touch with us at [email protected] or you can also call us at +91-9654321400 for a consultation on stroke.