DHAKA: Stroke is the rapid loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain.

This could be either due to ischemia (lack of blood flow) due to blockage or due to hemorrhage. However, an ordinary person is not aware of what stroke is, what it`s manifestations are, what the immediate course of action should be and how stroke patients should be rehabilitated.

Diabetes & Hypertension, smoking, obesity, high cholesterol level, and heart diseases are the important risk factors of stroke.

Warning signs of brain stroke

Face drooping: If the face of the patient droops to one side or one experiences numbness on one side of the face , call for help immediately. Meanwhile you can ask the person to smile, if he cannot, than rush him to the hospital immediately.

Weakness in the arm: A stroke patient will experience numbness or weakness in one of both of his/her arms. You can ask him/her to raise her hand, in a stroke patient the hand will fall downwards.

Difficulty in speaking: During a stroke patients have slurred speech. Ask them to simple questions, generally they won`t be able to reply it correctly, ask them repeatedly to check if they are having a stroke.

Loss of balance: A stroke patients finds it difficult to balance his body, he may suffer from difficulty in moving and lack of co-ordination.

Throbbing headache: One can suffer a throbbing headache suddenly without a reason, this generally signals towards hemorrhagic stroke.

Source: ToI

BDST: 1110 HRS, OCT 22, 2013
GR/JCK