Early detection and emergency care for stroke in the community.

Stroke is a dangerous condition that causes serious damage to the brain due to a sudden interruption or reduction in blood flow. When the brain is deprived of oxygen for even a few minutes, brain cells begin to die, leading to severe and even life-threatening consequences.

According to the Ministry of Health , approximately 30–50% of stroke patients cannot fully regain their ability to live independently; 15–30% have to live with permanent sequelae. Even if they survive, many patients still face paralysis, impaired mobility, or dysfunction in certain organs.

According to Dr. Le Tuong Lai, Head of the Neurology Department at Ca Mau General Hospital, approximately 85% of stroke cases are due to ischemic stroke, which occurs when a cerebral artery is blocked, causing a sudden reduction in blood flow to the brain. The remaining 15% are hemorrhagic strokes caused by ruptured blood vessels in the brain, resulting in blood spilling into the brain tissue and causing damage.

Stroke is currently the leading cause of death and disability globally. Therefore, early recognition of warning signs is especially important. People should be aware of typical symptoms such as: facial drooping (visible when smiling or showing teeth), weakness or paralysis on one side of the body (can be checked by asking the patient to raise both arms), and speech disorders (difficulty speaking, slurred speech, or inability to understand speech). When these signs appear suddenly, the patient should be taken to the nearest medical facility as quickly as possible.

Experts emphasize that the "golden hour" for stroke treatment typically lasts from the first 3 to 4.5 hours, or up to 6 hours, from the onset of symptoms. Getting patients to the hospital within this timeframe increases the chances of restoring blood flow to the brain, reduces the risk of death, and limits long-term complications.

When a suspected stroke victim is found in the community, it is important to remain calm and handle the situation correctly: support the patient to prevent falls; place them on their back or tilt their head to one side if vomiting occurs; clear mucus and food from the mouth to prevent choking; remove dentures or any foreign objects. The patient should be transported in a supine position, minimizing impact, especially in areas of weakness or paralysis, and quickly taken to a medical facility capable of treating stroke.

At the hospital, family members need to provide complete information to medical staff, such as the time of symptom onset, medical history, medications currently being used, and the patient's weight. They should also not delay treatment decisions when thrombolysis or vascular intervention is indicated. Importantly, under no circumstances should family members self-treat by giving the patient food or drink, medication, acupuncture, scraping, or applying unproven folk remedies.

For primary healthcare facilities, rapid identification of stroke signs, stabilizing the patient's condition, and activating timely referral procedures are crucial. Effective pre-hospital alert systems will help shorten the time from onset to access to specialized treatment.

Early detection and timely emergency care within the community not only help save lives but also minimize long-term consequences. Every citizen needs to proactively equip themselves with the knowledge to respond correctly, contributing to reducing the burden of stroke, protecting their health, and improving their quality of life.

Source: https://soyte.camau.gov.vn/bai-khoa-hoc-chinh-tri-va-xa-hoi/phat-hien-som-va-cap-cuu-dot-quy-tai-cong-dong-298653