Common Myths & Facts about Stroke You Must Know

A stroke needs immediate medical attention and timely treatment can prevent brain damage, physical disability, and death. However, there are several myths and misconceptions regarding stroke and its management. Proper education about Stroke is absolutely important so that immediate treatment and care can be provided if any person exhibits symptoms of Stroke.

Some of the myths vs. facts of stroke are given below.

1. Myth: Stroke occurs only in Elderly

Fact: Stroke is not only a disease of elderly but it can also happen in young people as well. Although the risk of getting stroke increases with increasing age, apparently, stroke can even affect people in the age group 15-65 years due to sedentary lifestyle, the prevalence of obesity, or high blood pressure in this age group.

2. Myth: Stroke happens in the Heart

Fact: Stroke is a brain attack. If the blood supply to the brain is cut off due to a clot or burst of the blood vessels, the cells start dying resulting in a stroke.

3. Myth: Stroke cannot be prevented

Fact: Over 90% of stroke can be prevented by maintaining a healthy weight, a healthy lifestyle, monitoring BP, cholesterol, blood sugar levels, and abstaining from smoking.

4. Myth: Stroke cannot be treated

Fact: Majority of strokes can be treated. If a patient is brought within 4.5 hours of onset of the stroke (golden period) there is maximum chances to prevent or reverse the damage caused by stroke. With rehabilitation and physiotherapy patients will be able to return to their normal life.

5. Myth: If stroke symptoms go away, you don’t need to see a doctor

Fact: Temporary stroke symptoms are called transient ischemic attacks (TIA) generally called as mini-stroke. They are warning signs prior to an actual stroke and need to be taken seriously and seek medical advice as early as possible.

6. Myth: Symptoms of stroke are hard to recognize

Fact: Symptoms of Stroke can be recognized easily. Just remember FAST (Face, Arm, Speech, and Time) Look for the symptoms like facial droop, weakness in the arm or leg, and slurred speech. If these symptoms are observed, the patient should be shifted to a stroke-ready hospital at the earliest.

The only way to reduce the chances of developing a stroke is to live a healthy lifestyle and keep all blood parameters within normal limits. Seeking early medical treatment on the onset of stroke symptoms is important to reduce damage and improve prognosis.