Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) — A new scientific statement from the American Stroke Association indicated that about 60% of all stroke survivors develop memory and thinking problems within one year. One-third of them develop dementia within 5 years.
“Surprising numbers, right?” said Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of cardiovascular disease prevention and wellness at National Jewish Health in Denver.
And about 9.4 million American adults, about 3.6% of the US adult population, have reported having a stroke, according to 2023 statistics from the American Heart Association.
“Cognitive impairment is often underreported and underdiagnosed, yet many stroke survivors suffer from it,” said Dr. Nada El-Husseini, associate professor of neurology at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. “.
About 40% of stroke survivors have mild cognitive impairment that does not meet the criteria for a dementia diagnosis.
Al-Husseini, who chairs the committee writing the statement, noted that mental difficulties, whether mild or not, can seriously affect quality of life.
The statement indicated that cognitive impairment is more common during the first two weeks after a stroke.
Mental decline can develop in parallel with other stroke-related symptoms, such as behavioral and personality changes, depression, physical disability, and sleep disturbances.
All of these factors can contribute to a decreased quality of life.
The American Stroke Association’s statement provided some good news: About 20% of people who experience mild cognitive impairment after a stroke fully restore cognitive function within the first six months.
Signs of a stroke
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke provided a list of the most prominent signs of stroke, which are:
- Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, difficulty speaking, or difficulty understanding speech
- Sudden difficulty seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden difficulty walking or loss of balance
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
- Other less common symptoms include dizziness, confusion, nausea, memory loss, or vomiting
Warning signs may only last for a few moments and then go away, which could mean the person is having a mini-stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA).
Experts felt that none of these symptoms should be ignored, as they could predict a more serious stroke.
It’s never too late to protect yourself, Freeman added, but you’ll need to work hard, even after you’ve had a mild stroke.
He continued, “People should make radical changes to their lifestyle, including eating healthier food, exercising more, taking statins, aspirin, or whatever medication the doctor deems appropriate so that the risk of infection is as low as possible.”
immediate medical attention
Brain damage occurs when some cells stop getting oxygen and die, while other brain cells may die due to bleeding in the brain.
As a result, permanent brain damage can occur in minutes to hours, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
“Some brain cells die quickly, but many remain in a weak state for several hours,” the institute added.
Prompt medical attention is key to minimizing the impact of a stroke, but how can you quickly recognize the symptoms of a stroke, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Control?
- the face: Ask the person to smile.. Does one side of the face droop?
- Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms.. Does one arm move downward?
- talk: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase.. Is the speech slurred or strange?
If you notice any of these signs, call an ambulance immediately.
Finally, be sure to record when any symptoms first appear, the CDC says, to help medical staff determine the best course of treatment.
2023-05-04 11:48:03
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