The beginning of winter is one of the dangerous periods of the year when the risk of stroke is especially high. Help provided to a person within the next 3 hours from the moment the first symptoms were discovered can save his life and in the future will help him recover faster!
There are two types of strokes:
- Ischemic – vasospasm causes disruption of normal blood circulation;
- Hemorrhagic – rupture of blood vessels leads to cerebral hemorrhage.
More often than others, ischemic stroke occurs. It affects people over 65 years old, women during menopause. Recently, it is also often recorded in people at a relatively active, young age – 35-40 years, especially in those who are engaged in intellectual work.
The main cause of stroke is arterial hypertension. Also, risk factors include the presence of atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, overweight. In women, smoking while taking contraceptives.
Stroke Care Memo
Self-diagnosis. A stroke is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- limbs suddenly go numb (hands, fingers, leg, feet);
- the field of vision falls out, double vision, vision becomes indistinct;
- there is a sudden loss of control;
- there is nausea, vomiting;
- the head starts to hurt badly.
Symptoms that you can recognize from the outside by asking the person to perform a series of simple actions. In this case, it will be difficult for him:
- smile, one corner of the mouth will be lowered, the face will look asymmetrical;
- raise both hands up at the same time;
- stick out tongue;
- pronounce your name; speech will sound blurry, indistinct.
Assistance before the arrival of doctors:
1. Provide the person with a level position (the head should be raised, for this it is necessary to put pillows under it);
2. Clear space for oxygen to flow;
3. Take off the embarrassing clothing from the person (open the collar of the shirt, the belt on the trousers);
4. When vomiting, turn the person’s head to one side to keep vomit from entering the airway.
Research Needed for Stroke Prevention
To eliminate the risk of stroke, CITILAB recommends a special program of laboratory diagnostics “Stop-Stroke” . It allows you to specifically and reliably identify risk factors for the development of acute disorders of cerebral circulation and assess the likelihood of their occurrence in the near future.
FIRST AID FOR INFARCTION
If you experience intense pain behind the sternum, which radiates to the left arm and lasts at least 15 minutes, call an ambulance. Most likely, this is an ischemic infarction, which requires urgent hospitalization and immediate laboratory examination.
Heart attack symptoms.
1. Pain in the left side of the chest Is burning in nature, occurs suddenly, difficult to bear;
2. A person may complain that the heart is “as if squeezed”;
3. Pain can be given to the left shoulder blade, arm, forearm;
4. Lack of air, shortness of breath;
5. Cold sweat, suffering expression on the face;
6. Confusion of consciousness, speech disorders;
7. Barely perceptible, weak, rapid pulse.
In the case of a heart attack, atypical symptoms can also be observed: for example, pain can rise to the throat and give to the lower jaw. Or “walk” up or down the abdomen (hiccups, vomiting).
How can you help while the ambulance is on the way?
1. Provide physical and emotional rest to a person, give an influx of oxygen.
2. Give nitroglycerin under the tongue (tablets or aerosol) 0.4-0.5 under the tongue;
3. Give acetylsalicylic acid (0.25 mg) for the person to chew the tablet.
4. Urgently hospitalize!
Delay during a heart attack can cost life. Therefore, the earlier the studies necessary to diagnose a heart attack are performed, the higher the chances of saving a person’s life.
FIRST AID FOR INFARCTION
It is important to understand that if a person is not hospitalized within the first 2 hours after the development of a heart attack, then in 40% of cases, a lethal outcome is possible.
According to statistics, the number of heart attacks increases in the summer. Both men and women, including very young, over 35 years old, are at risk. Most do not know how to recognize a heart attack, whether it is necessary to take medication and in what dosage, at what point to call a doctor.
How to recognize a heart attack?
- The pain in the chest is sudden, burning in nature, there is a feeling as if the heart was “squeezed”;
- Pain often “radiates” to the left shoulder and arm
- Lack of air, shortness of breath, dizziness;
- Sticky sweat;
- Violation of speech, confusion (a person does not understand where he is);
- Headache appears and grows;
- The pulse is rapid, barely caught.
Sometimes atypical symptoms appear. For example, pain can rise to the throat and radiate to the lower jaw. Or affect the upper abdomen, which is manifested by hiccups and vomiting.
In order not to aggravate the course of a heart attack before the arrival of doctors:
- provide a person with physical peace, open windows, do not make noise;
- give nitroglycerin (tablets or aerosol) 0.4-0.5 mg under the tongue;
- give him an acetylsalicylic acid tablet (0.25 mg) to chew;
- after the arrival of doctors, do not interfere and do not interfere with hospitalization!
Prevention of heart attack
Factors that can trigger a heart attack include:
- hereditary predisposition;
- cardiac ischemia; diabetes;
- regular increase in blood pressure (hypertension), over 140/90 mm Hg. Art. and higher;
- increased emotional stress;
- overweight, obesity;
- increased blood cholesterol levels;
- bad habits (smoking, drinking alcohol);
- sedentary lifestyle.
In order to identify possible heart problems in advance, complete the Cardiorisk. This is a complex specialized examination for men and women over 35 years old. The profile is especially recommended for those who suffer from sudden changes in blood pressure, tachycardia, arrhythmias, shortness of breath. Be healthy!