The risk of stroke is enhanced 1-2 times more than normal people for those with high cholesterol problem, 3-5 times with hypertension and 5-10 times for those already had mild stroke before.
What is stroke?
About 1/5 of the blood pumped by the heart is delivered to the brain. A stroke or ‘brain attack’ happens when blood circulation fails to reach any part of this organ within 5 minutes, rendering permanent damage. This is because brain cells need a constant supply of fresh blood and oxygen.
Causes
The final outcome is often a capillary blood vessel in the brain burst with blood leaking out. The blood pressure within the capillary is normally raised above normal level or when it is too weak to withstand the pressure. Also possible if the capillary walls are too rigid to allow any expansion to accomodate the inner pressure.
Effects
The brain is divided into right and left hemispheres. The right hemisphere controls the movements of the left side of the body. Thus, it can cause paralysis to the left side of the body as well as problems with spatial and perceptual abilities, and loss of short term memory.
Similarly, the left hemisphere can impact on the right side of the body. However, if a stroke hits the brain stem, the patient can enter a coma or die. This is so as the brain stem controls the body’s vital functions such as blood pressure, breathing and heart rate.
+ Formation of a blood clot that blocks an artery. (ischaemic stroke)
+ Lodgment of a floating fragment of blood clot in one of the arteries in the brain.
+ Rupture of the arterial wall in the brain (haemorrhagic stroke), with escape of blood into the brain tissue – usually due to a buildup of cholesterol and fatty deposits in clogged arteries.
The final outcome is often a capillary blood vessel in the brain burst with blood leaking out. The blood pressure within the capillary is normally raised above normal level or when it is too weak to withstand the pressure. Also possible if the capillary walls are too rigid to allow any expansion to accomodate the inner pressure.
The effects of the stroke depend on the type, severity and location of the stroke. Depending on the area of the brain that is damaged by the stroke, there may be a loss of normal function of that part of the body.
The brain is divided into right and left hemispheres. The right hemisphere controls the movements of the left side of the body. Thus, it can cause paralysis to the left side of the body as well as problems with spatial and perceptual abilities, and loss of short term memory.Similarly, the left hemisphere can impact on the right side of the body. However, if a stroke hits the brain stem, the patient can enter a coma or die. This is so as the brain stem controls the body’s vital functions such as blood pressure, breathing and heart rate.
Two key steps we can take will lower our risk of death or disability from stroke: know the warning signs and control the risk factor.
Symptoms
The symptoms may develop instantly or over a period of several minutes.
1. Stumble even walking on level ground
1. Stumble even walking on level ground
2. Unable to pronounce certain vowels properly and slur at times
3. With weakening legs, may kick passing objects accidentally
4. Pens can slip from fingers due to weak limb muscles
5. Collapses and may fall unconsciously
6. Always feeling tired even after a good sleep
7. Weak bladder control
8. Constipation due to weakening rectal muscles
9. Absent-minded, memory loss, confusion as less blood gets to the brain
10. Sudden severe headache
11. Face may be flushed and congested
12. There may be vomiting or convulsions
13. Paralysis may cripple the muscles of one side of the face, causing the mouth to be pulled to the strong side
Most patients do not take the above symptoms seriously and tend to attribute to signs of aging. Also accruing pain may just flash and disappear.
Recognising a stroke
Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.
Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:
** How to apply first aid by a traditional Chinese medical practitioner’s opinion:
1. High blood pressure - due to bleeding or blockage
2. Cigarette smoking – is linked to the buildup of fatty substances in the carotid artery, the main neck artery supplying blood to the brain. Nicotine raises blood pressure, carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen our blood can carry in the brain
3. Diabetes – high blood sugar hardens and thickens the arteries resulting in poor blood circulation
Some advice to improve stroke condition:
+ Go for long walks to improve blood circulation. Over a period of time, should regain clear vision and mental alertness. Jogging, ta-chi and swimming also help
+ Drink plenty of water
+ Eat proper foods – more alkaline and avoid acidic foods, to prevent blood thickening
More comments
1. Stroke is no longer an aging problem. On the contrary, recent statistics showed the age group affected has dropped tremendously. A new trend is emerging for stroke to occur in young victims in their twenties or thirties due to their bad dietary habits.
2. Patients with hypotension (low blood pressure) or arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat) are not spared either. The latest research showed what matters is any big variance between the systolic and distolic blood pressure increases the risk of stroke. Hence, maintaining the elasticity of the vascular wall is crucial in preventing a stroke.
3. Genetic factor does not contribute to this risky problem as much as unhealthy lifestyle such as lack of exercise, smoking/drinking, poor dietary habits and stress.
4. Although vegetarian diet is derived from plant sources and thus do not contain cholesterol, but for those with sweet tooth, any excess intake not burn off is converted into glucose and triglycerides. Not forgetting that such diet is usually prepared using flour, oil and artificial substances to improve palatability. All the extras only go towards increasing the fat or calorie intake, affecting the lipid metabolism and thus contribute to stroke risk.
Studies have shown that 1/3 of stroke patients recover finally, 1/3 recover partially and remainder 1/3 never make it. Instead of fighting for the slim chance of recovering, do not let it happen in the first place.
VIVA corner
Quick treatment is the key to survival and recovery. It is recommended to have a balanced diet, take nutritional supplements and reduce stress as preventive measures.
+ Green Barley is rich in SOD enzymes, chlorophyll and dietary fiber which helps to lower total blood cholesterol and low-density cholesterol (LDL) level. Its alkaline content can promote body metabolism and assist in the detoxification process.
+ Coenzyme 10 in VIVA Oxypower improves heart and lung function and lowers blood pressure.
+ Lipoguard is a better choice for those who are troubled with high cholesterol, blood pressure and triglyceride problems as the polyunsaturated fatty acids and garlic contents can help to dilate and improve the elasticity of the blood vessels more efficiently.
+ Vitamin A, C, E and selenium are natural antioxidants found in Vivashield which help to decrease peroxide levels in the blood and strengthen the blood vessel.
+ Research has shown that folic acid reduces stroke risk in men. Increased intake of folic acid in VIVA B-easy is known to help in reducing levels of an amino acid called homocysteine, which is found to weaken the walls of the arteries.
+ Calcium and magnesium deficiency has been linked to high blood pressure.
F *Ask the individual to SMILE.
S *Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE coherently eg. I am really fine.
A *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.
T *If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.
New Sign of a Stroke ——– Stick out Your Tongue
If the tongue is ‘crooked’, goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.
Treatments
** How to apply first aid by a traditional Chinese medical practitioner’s opinion:
- When stroke strikes, the capillaries in the brain will gradually burst. It is important to stay calm and do not move the patient to prevent the capillaries from bursting.
- Help the victim to sit up where he is to prevent him from falling over again, and bloodletting can begin.
- Use an injection syringe or a sewing needle/straight pin heats up over fire to sterilize it, and then prick the tip of all 10 fingers. There are no specific acupuncture points, just prick about an mm from the fingernail till blood oozes. In the event blood does not drip, squeeze with your fingers till all 10 digits bleed. Wait for a few minutes for the victim to regain consciousness.
- If the victim’s mouth is crooked, pull on his ears till they turn red. Then prick each ear lobe twice until two drops of blood comes from each earlobe. The victim should regain consciousness within few minutes. Once regains consciousness rush him to the hospital.
** A western medical expert’s opinion:
Blood letting about which I have heard it practised by para-medical personnel in the distant past, can in a way cause blood pressure within the blood vessels to drop and as a first aid, can be reckoned as a useful procedure. That such a procedure is done on the finger-tips could be because of easily available multiple surface. Pinching the ears and also pricking the ears to allow to bleed can cause to shock the victim momentarily to regain consciousness. (Just like splashing a pail of iced water on an unconscious subject.) Perhaps! If these procedures do not achieve good results it will not end up causing bad. So why not.
Stroke requires early medical attention and close monitoring for deterioration, looking into the risk factors such as high blood pressure, rehabilitation and prevention and management of potential complications. In fact, following a stroke, patients are still at risk for subsequent strokes and heart attacks and have to constantly reduce the accompanying risk.
In majority of cases, the major risk factors are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking and obesity.
1. High blood pressure - due to bleeding or blockage
2. Cigarette smoking – is linked to the buildup of fatty substances in the carotid artery, the main neck artery supplying blood to the brain. Nicotine raises blood pressure, carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen our blood can carry in the brain
3. Diabetes – high blood sugar hardens and thickens the arteries resulting in poor blood circulation
Some advice to improve stroke condition:
+ Go for long walks to improve blood circulation. Over a period of time, should regain clear vision and mental alertness. Jogging, ta-chi and swimming also help
+ Drink plenty of water
+ Eat proper foods – more alkaline and avoid acidic foods, to prevent blood thickening
More comments
1. Stroke is no longer an aging problem. On the contrary, recent statistics showed the age group affected has dropped tremendously. A new trend is emerging for stroke to occur in young victims in their twenties or thirties due to their bad dietary habits.
2. Patients with hypotension (low blood pressure) or arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat) are not spared either. The latest research showed what matters is any big variance between the systolic and distolic blood pressure increases the risk of stroke. Hence, maintaining the elasticity of the vascular wall is crucial in preventing a stroke.
3. Genetic factor does not contribute to this risky problem as much as unhealthy lifestyle such as lack of exercise, smoking/drinking, poor dietary habits and stress.
4. Although vegetarian diet is derived from plant sources and thus do not contain cholesterol, but for those with sweet tooth, any excess intake not burn off is converted into glucose and triglycerides. Not forgetting that such diet is usually prepared using flour, oil and artificial substances to improve palatability. All the extras only go towards increasing the fat or calorie intake, affecting the lipid metabolism and thus contribute to stroke risk.
Studies have shown that 1/3 of stroke patients recover finally, 1/3 recover partially and remainder 1/3 never make it. Instead of fighting for the slim chance of recovering, do not let it happen in the first place.
VIVA corner
Quick treatment is the key to survival and recovery. It is recommended to have a balanced diet, take nutritional supplements and reduce stress as preventive measures.
+ Green Barley is rich in SOD enzymes, chlorophyll and dietary fiber which helps to lower total blood cholesterol and low-density cholesterol (LDL) level. Its alkaline content can promote body metabolism and assist in the detoxification process.+ Coenzyme 10 in VIVA Oxypower improves heart and lung function and lowers blood pressure.
+ Lipoguard is a better choice for those who are troubled with high cholesterol, blood pressure and triglyceride problems as the polyunsaturated fatty acids and garlic contents can help to dilate and improve the elasticity of the blood vessels more efficiently.
+ VIVA liquick gingko is able to assist in clearing blockages in the brain’s capillaries (careful when used on hypertension patients).
+ Research has shown that folic acid reduces stroke risk in men. Increased intake of folic acid in VIVA B-easy is known to help in reducing levels of an amino acid called homocysteine, which is found to weaken the walls of the arteries.+ Calcium and magnesium deficiency has been linked to high blood pressure.
