What are the primary triggers of stroke? Sex, alcohol and stress are the leading candidates. A recent study conducted by AIIMS on 290 stroke victims found that stress, alcohol and sex some of the common triggers for stroke in Indian men. The study found that high-risk activities are responsible stroke in 44% of the patients. In medical terms, a trigger is something that immediately causes a stroke whereas ‘risk factors’ are lifestyle choices that increase the likelihood of strokes.
‘A small number of men, 5 out of 210 (2.4%), said they had sexual intercourse about two hours before the stroke,’ said Dr Ashish Sharma, who led the study told TOI. On the other hand, none of the women reported sexual activity, though there’s no way to ascertain this since sex is a taboo topic.
Other findings of the study:
- 48% men reported certain triggers for stroke.
- 19% said they were nervous, distressed or scared in the preceding week.
- 15% had more than four standard drinks in the 24 hours preceding the stroke or 15 standard drinks in the week before the event.
- 9% of them suffered from infection in the preceding days.
The study was conducted after a spate of stroke cases in the recent past, particularly among youngsters. An older study published in the Lancet found that there has been a sharp increase (25%) in the number of stroke cases among people aged between 20 and 64 in the last two decades. Strokes in this age-group make up one-third of such cases now and that unless major steps are taken the disability and illness caused due to strokes will double by 2030.
What is stroke?
Also known as a cerebrovascular accident, a stroke is a medical emergency in which a part of the brain doesn’t receive blood supply. Brain cells of the affected region begin to die within a few minutes and often result in long-term dysfunction of the body part controlled by the affected brain area. There are two main types of strokes – Ischemic and Haemorrhagic stroke. An ischemic stroke is caused by a block (blood clot) in the blood vessel and a haemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding through a tear in the blood vessel.
Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of stroke.
Risk factors include smoking drinking, drinking, high blood pressure, high blood glucose (diabetes), heart disease, high cholesterol obesity, low HDL and drug abuse.
Signs and symptoms of stroke include numbness, weakness or paralysis on one side of the body. There is sudden confusion, severe headache with no known cause and trouble in speaking, understanding, seeing, walking, dizziness or loss of balance. Stroke is diagnosed by a clinical (neurological) examination and imaging tests such as CT or MRI scans which determine the type and cause of stroke.
Use the handy mnemonic FAST to recognize the symptoms:
F (face): uneven smile, facial droopiness, numbness, vision disturbance
A (arm and leg): weakness, numbness, difficulty walking
S (speech): slurred, inappropriate words, mute
T (time): Realize that time is critical. If you notice any of the above symptoms, immediately call 911—studies show that you get faster care if you arrive at the hospital in an ambulance than if someone drives you. With strokes, time lost is brain lost—simple as that.
Tips to keep stroke at bay
Get some exercise
Walk at least 20 minutes a day. Even if you break it up into two 10-minute sessions, it’s worth it. Walking a total of 2 hours a week can cut your stroke risk by 30 percent, according to a large study of nearly 40,000 women, conducted over a 12-year period. Walk briskly (so you can talk but not sing) and your chances are reduced by almost 40 percent.
Get the right amount of sleep
Set your alarm for 7 hours of sleep. More than 10 a night in la-la land may increase your stroke risk by up to 63 percent, compared with the recommended 7-hour stretch, scientists at Harvard claim. And if you’re especially loud in bed—while snoring, that is—studies suggest you’re twice as likely to develop metabolic syndrome, which is a cluster of conditions that raises your risk of stroke, as well as heart disease and diabetes.
Switch to a healthier diet
Healthier food options will help you lower your bad cholesterol levels, keep heart disease at bay and also prevent obesity. Various researches have shown that healthier eating habits have a causal link with less heart disease and stroke risk. Check out our diet section for tasty, healthy recipes.
Mind the migraine
Those extra-special headaches—particularly the ones that come with flashes of light and blind spots—appear linked to a higher stroke risk in women; and as an added bonus, most migraine-sufferers are women, thanks in part to hormonal fluctuations and medications. Though there’s no clear proof that indicates treating a migraine means no stroke, experts agree it’s reasonable to try and reduce their frequency. Talk with your doctor—she may prescribe preventive meds or suggest stress management techniques.
Don’t ignore irregular heartbeats
Pay attention to palpitations especially if the heart flutters occur with shortness of breath, light-headedness, and chest pain—those are all signs of atrial fibrillation (AF), an abnormal heartbeat that boosts risk of stroke about five-fold.
Eat potassium-rich food
Eat sweet potatoes and raisins and bananas and tomato paste. Not all on the same plate but individually, each is loaded with potassium—and a diet rich in foods with this nutrient may reduce stroke risk by 20 percent, suggests a recent report. More good sources: fruits and veggies, fish, poultry, and dairy.
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