Stroke: The 'Golden Hour', Proper First Aid

Stroke is a medical emergency; missing the 'golden hour' for treatment can lead to death or lifelong disability.

Timely emergency care and proper first aid are essential.

According to Dr. Le Nhat Duy, from the University Medical Center of Ho Chi Minh City - Branch 3, the European Stroke Association and the World Stroke Organization (WSO) state that the "golden time" for treating stroke victims is within the first 3-4.5 hours of symptom onset. "Within this timeframe, doctors can use thrombolytic drugs to restore blood flow in cases of ischemic stroke, or intervene to stop bleeding in cases of hemorrhagic stroke. If treatment is delayed, the patient's chances of recovery decrease rapidly, and the risk of permanent disability increases significantly," Dr. Nhat Duy said.

The golden time for optimal stroke treatment is the first 3-4.5 hours - PHOTO: AI

According to Dr. Nhat Duy, the most important thing when discovering someone having a stroke is to call emergency services immediately. While waiting for the ambulance, people can perform the following actions:

• Position the patient on their side (if they are vomiting) to prevent vomit from entering the lungs.
• Keep your airways clear.
• Loosen the patient's clothing and prevent them from remaining in a rigid position.
• Observing and remembering when the first symptoms appear is crucial for doctors to decide on treatment.
• Do not give the patient anything to eat or drink.
• Do not give patients medication without consulting a doctor, including blood pressure medication or any over-the-counter remedies. This can be dangerous, worsen their condition, or cause choking.
• Do not transport the patient by motorbike or attempt to drive them to the hospital yourself – this could easily worsen the brain injury.

Proactive stroke prevention

To prevent stroke, especially in young people today, one can start simply by changing their lifestyle.

Proper nutrition : Reduce salt intake, increase fiber and green vegetables, and limit fast food and animal fats.

At least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week and maintaining an ideal weight can help prevent stroke - Photo: AI

Regular physical activity : Exercise at moderate intensity for at least 150 minutes per week and maintain an ideal weight.

Control bad habits : Limit alcohol consumption, quit smoking, and avoid stress.

Control other medical conditions : When there are underlying medical conditions that can lead to stroke complications, such as hypertension, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, dyslipidemia, coronary artery disease, etc., treatment should be followed as directed by the doctor.

Even people without underlying health conditions should have a health check-up every six months to detect and control any risk factors for disease early on.

According to Doctor Nhat Duy, in addition to modern medicine, traditional medicine can also help prevent stroke by regulating internal organs, balancing yin and yang, and improving blood circulation.

However, this method plays a supportive role, improving overall health and should be used in conjunction with other treatments; it does not replace modern medical treatment protocols for pre-diagnosed underlying conditions.

Some medicinal herbs can be used in the form of teas or medicinal dishes daily to support blood circulation, calm the nerves, and stabilize body indicators:

Salvia miltiorrhiza : Promotes blood circulation, dissolves blood stasis, clears blood vessels, and improves blood flow.

Panax notoginseng : It has both blood-tonifying effects and helps dissolve small blood clots, which is good for cardiovascular health.

Sophora japonica flowers : Contain a lot of rutin, which strengthens blood vessel walls, reduces the risk of blood vessel rupture, and is especially good for people with high blood pressure.

Hawthorn (Momordica charantia): Helps with digestion, breaks down food stagnation, supports lowering blood lipids, and stabilizes blood pressure to a mild degree.

Uncaria rhynchophylla : Calms the liver, dispels wind, soothes the nerves, helps reduce symptoms of headache, dizziness, and vertigo caused by excess liver yang.

"It is important to note that any intervention using traditional medicine should be examined and advised by qualified traditional medicine doctors to ensure safety and effectiveness," Dr. Nhat Duy emphasized.

Doctor Nhat Duy points out a few acupressure points that people can massage and press at home to help improve blood circulation:

Hegu acupoint : Located at the highest point of the muscle between the index finger and thumb. Massaging this acupoint helps to unblock meridians and promote blood circulation in the head and face area.

The Zusanli acupoint: Located four finger widths (3 cun) below the outer hollow of the patella. Massaging this acupoint helps strengthen the spleen and stomach, nourish qi and blood, and improve overall immunity.

Taichong acupoint: Located on the top of the foot, 2 cun (approximately 37.5 cm) above the space between the first and second toes. This is the source acupoint of the liver meridian; massaging and pressing it helps to reduce internal heat and relieve tension.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dot-quy-thoi-gian-vang-so-cap-cuu-dung-cach-185250704003532604.htm