As time flies, our lifestyles change as quickly as we age. Along with this, we become more and more at risk of different diseases. We may still feel some are coming and some will just surprise us suddenly and could be fatal to us. One of these sudden diseases is stroke.

Stroke or Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA) is the leading cause of disability in the Philippines and the second leading cause of death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This is caused either by the blockage of the arteries in the brain (ischemic) or the sudden rupture of the blood vessels (hemorrhagic), both lead to the sudden death of brain cells due to lack of oxygen from the blood.

What are the risk factors of the disease?

Different medical and lifestyle factors can increase the risk of having a stroke.

Lifestyle factors:

• Obesity
• Lack of exercise and physical activities
• Binge drinking
• Drug abuse

Medical factors:

• Blood pressure more than 120/80
• First-hand or second-hand smoking
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes

Other factors include:

• Age – Persons at least 55 years of age have higher risks of stroke
• Sex – Males experience stroke more than females, but the latter has a higher mortality rate.
• Hormones – the use of birth control pills or hormone therapies that include estrogen can increase the risk of stroke

What are the signs and symptoms to watch out for?

A person experiences stroke once they encounter the following:

• Sudden numbness of the face
• Headache with no known cause
• Sudden confusion and difficulty talking
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden difficulty walking or losing of balance

What should we do when someone experiences these?

Upon early signs of experiencing the symptoms, a person must seek immediate medical help. Pay attention to what time it began and how long it lasted. The length of time when the signs occurred will determine what medications the health professional will recommend.

What is its usual healthcare cost? 

Some government hospitals and institutions offer free hospitalization for stroke patients. However, the patients and their families still shoulder medication expenses for this, which can be costly for them. Luckily, the Department of Health (DOH) made one of the medications called the tissue plasminogen activator (alteplase) available for free in select hospitals nationwide. The package usually costs PHP 80,000.00.

What are the complications a person may experience?

A person having a stroke may experience temporary or permanent complications depending on how long the brain experienced a lack of oxygen. They may experience paralysis, memory loss or thinking difficulty, difficulty in talking or swallowing, and pain or numbness in different parts of the body. A person who experienced multiple strokes may also experience changes in self-care and emotional problems, which may lead to depression.

How do we prevent having a stroke?

Since stroke is mostly affected by our lifestyle, Internet Stroke Center recommends a few lifestyle changes such as:

• Alcohol moderation
• Maintaining a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI)
• Maintaining normal blood pressure
• Regular exercise
• Proper diet (vegetables and fruits over food rich in cholesterol)
• Quitting tobacco use