Recognizing the risk of stroke

The red alert protocol applied here will "race against time" to minimize brain damage for patients using the most modern stroke treatment techniques such as intravenous thrombolysis, thrombectomy, aneurysm embolization with coils and flow-diverting stents, craniotomy for hematoma removal, ventricular drainage, aneurysm clipping surgery, vascular stenting, carotid artery endovascular dissection, etc.

According to Dr. Duong Quang Hai, Deputy Head of the Stroke Department (Da Nang Hospital), in the first five months of 2023 alone, they received and treated over 2,000 stroke cases. Of these, 85% of patients were saved, and over 65% recovered their health and working capacity to near their pre-stroke level, provided they received early intervention, down to the second and minute, to minimize brain damage.

"When symptoms such as weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, sensory disturbances on one side of the body, drooping mouth, facial paralysis on one side, changes in voice, difficulty speaking... appear, these are the most easily recognizable signs of stroke. In addition, there are other signs such as sudden dizziness and visual disturbances, which should also be checked at the hospital for early detection," advised Dr. Hai.

Cerebral artery thrombectomy is an interventional procedure for stroke patients with early-stage stroke.

Preventing the risk of recurrent stroke

To determine if they are at high risk for stroke, doctors advise patients to undergo a stroke screening. Specifically, this involves checking for conditions such as hypertension, hyperglycemia, and vascular disorders like atherosclerosis. Importantly, it will identify cerebral vascular malformations, and detect cardiovascular problems, particularly arrhythmias or valvular heart disease.

"For each stroke case, patients need to be screened for the underlying cause, such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, blood clotting disorders, and major artery stenosis, in order to have a preventive treatment plan tailored to each cause," advised Dr. Hai.

Doctors also noted that many patients who were treated and cured suffered recurrent strokes due to complacency. Complacency here means arbitrarily stopping anticoagulant medication and preventative medication for vascular occlusion, and failing to undergo preventative check-ups for narrowed arteries, blockages, and cardiovascular abnormalities. In particular, the misuse of dietary supplements and medications advertised as stroke prevention also leads patients to underestimate their high-risk condition.

"There will be a 30% chance of people who have had a stroke experiencing a recurrence within 5 years. Therefore, controlling risk factors and implementing preventive measures tailored to the specific cause of the disease, with monitoring and guidance from a doctor, is crucial. If the underlying cause is well controlled in each specific case, the risk of recurrence can be reduced by 80-90%," advised Dr. Hai.

Dr. Le Duc Nhan, Director of Da Nang Hospital, said that Da Nang Hospital has been awarded Platinum certification by the World Stroke Organization for its efforts in emergency care and treatment of stroke in Vietnam over the past years. Da Nang Hospital will move towards building a Stroke Center with full functions including interventional stroke, stroke revascularization, stroke rehabilitation, and stroke recurrence risk management. "We will prioritize connecting and caring for post-stroke patients to help control the disease effectively and prevent recurrence, because subsequent strokes are more severe, have a higher mortality risk, and a higher probability of nerve damage causing paralysis…," said Dr. Le Duc Nhan.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/nhan-biet-nguy-co-dot-quy-185230620152001122.htm