What you need to know about strokes

“Fear of the coronavirus is keeping people from seeking emergency care for heart attack and strokes,” an article in the New York Times said. Since New York’s epicenter of the virus, I thought that was concerning but understandable. Then I found a similar article in the Boston Globe and hitting closer to home an NPR report quoting a Bellevue, Washington physician, Dr. Abhineet Chowdhary.

Dr. Chowdhary said that a fifty-year-old patient told him that despite the fact she was suffering the worst headache of her life, she was frightened to go to the hospital because she was afraid of the coronavirus. She was having a stroke.

“As a result, she had multiple other strokes and ended up passing away,” Dr. Chowdhary said. “This is something that most of the time, we’re able to prevent.”

If you show any signs of a stroke, you must get medical assistance as quickly as possible, and I assure you it is safe to call 911. The emergency room at Bonner General Health has all the precautions to prevent you from getting infected with COVID-19 and other transmissible diseases.

There are three main types of strokes. The most common is an ischemic stroke, which happens when blood flow through the artery that supplies oxygen-rich blood to the brain becomes blocked. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when an artery in the brain leaks blood or ruptures. A transient ischemic attack (TIA) occurs when the blood flow to the brain is blocked for a short period and is often a warning that a more severe stroke is apt to happen in the future.

Most recently, scientists are studying blood clots developing in people who’ve had the coronavirus.

“Although typically considered a lung infection, COVID-19 can cause blood clots that can lead to severe stroke,” Healthline says. “Experts say that this can happen in any patient regardless of age; people as young as 30 are experiencing strokes even when their symptoms were mild.”

It’s critical to know the symptoms of a stroke. Medical News Today says that many people do not feel any pain while having a stroke. They will have problems talking or understanding others, numbness, or drooping on one side of the face and weakness on one side of the body. They’ll have trouble walking or balancing, have vision problems, feel dizzy, and have difficulty swallowing.

A sharp or severe headache is a pain and can be a symptom of stroke. “A hemorrhagic stroke is more likely to cause headaches than an ischemic stroke. However, a person can experience a headache in both types,” MNT says.

Genetics, age, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disorders, a previous stroke, and diabetes are some of the common risk factors. “While both women and men can have strokes, they’re more common in women than in men in all age groups,” Healthline says.

I was surprised to read that people who have insomnia may have a higher tendency for stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.

“Data from more than a million people found that genetic liability to insomnia may increase the risk of coronary artery disease, heart failure, and stroke,” an article in Science Daily reports. “Among types of ischemic stroke, genetic liability to insomnia was primarily associated with an increased risk of large artery stroke.”

Ensuring that you effectively treat underlying conditions will reduce your risk of stroke. Not smoking or drinking alcohol to excess, keeping your weight down, exercising regularly, and managing stress levels will all reduce your risk. Talk to your healthcare provider before using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and hormonal birth control pills. Keep your blood glucose numbers in an acceptable range.

An unhealthy diet increases your risk of stroke. Eat a diet that’s full of fruits and vegetables. Reduce your salt intake. Eat foods low in cholesterol, trans-fats, and saturated fats. Carefully read the labels of processed foods, as many of them are high in fat and salt. Try to avoid eating fast food.

I can’t stress this enough, if you suspect you may be having a stroke do not waste time, call 911. BGH’s partnership with Providence Telestroke Network provides 24/7 access to the best stroke experts and latest advancements in care.

Kathy Hubbard is a member of Bonner General Health Foundation Advisory Council. She can be reached at kathyleehubbard@yahoo.com.