A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted. It can be caused by a variety of factors, from having high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or atrial fibrillation to being overweight or sedentary. If you suspect that you or someone else is having a stroke, one of the first things you should pay attention is the limbs.
If your limbs show these signs, you should be worried about stroke
One of the most common signs of Ischemic stroke is weakness or paralysis of the limbs. All the other signs of stroke may appear suddenly, but this sign can be spotted hours or sometimes days before the stroke. In this case, a person may not be able to move his/her limbs due to muscle pain or muscle tightness. It can be any side of the body or any limbs- hands or legs.
Why does it happen?
The main reason why our limbs are affected is that their functioning is controlled by our brain. The movement of limbs is triggered by the message sent from the brain which controls it. When the supply of blood in the brain decreases the exchange of instructions between them is affected. As a result, it cannot move or is paralysed. Muscle tightness and numbness are quite common in such cases.
What are the risk factors?
Ischemic stroke is common in people who have a family history of stroke or who’ve had past strokes. Besides, men are more likely to suffer from it compared to women. Some health condition that increases the risk of Ischemic stroke includes:
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Atherosclerosis
Atrial fibrillation
Prior heart attack
Clotting disorders
Sickle cell anaemia
Diabetes
Heavy alcohol misuse
Smoking
How to prevent it
If you have a family history of stroke or are suffering from any condition that increases the risk then you need to take extra care of yourself. Here are a few things that you may do.
Having regular check-ups
Following a heart-healthy diet
Getting regular exercise
Managing bodyweight
Sleeplessness
Avoiding first-hand or secondary smoking
References: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
