Stroke is sudden weakness of an arm, a
leg, sudden blindness, sudden confusion, sudden problems with speaking,
difficulty walking, sudden severe headaches, sudden collapse and death.
Stroke is due to blockage of a blood
vessel carrying blood to the brain, leading to injury or death of that
part of the brain. Stroke also occurs when a blood vessel bursts open
inside the brain. This is why it occurs ‘suddenly’, as the tap carrying
food to the brain gets turned off! In both situations, the brain does
not get the food and oxygen it requires.
Time is brain
Stroke is an emergency and requires
immediate action to prevent brain damage and death. Stroke causes injury
because vital nutrients are not delivered to the brain; and so brain
tissue dies. This happens in real, proper, and bad strokes. But there
are also minor strokes, partial strokes in which the brain does not die
or become permanently injured. These people recover almost perfect
function. But, see below.
Continue reading after the cut....
Big or small
Minor strokes, mini-strokes, small
strokes and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) are one and the same. TIAs
are common events characterised by stroke symptoms that completely
resolve. They were previously thought to be benign but research over the
past decade has revealed the high risk of further strokes in these
patients. Having a TIA is a risk factor for having a major stroke.
TIAs and strokes cause the same symptoms,
such as paralysis (opposite side of body from affected brain
hemisphere) or sudden weakness or numbness. A TIA may also cause sudden
dimming or loss of vision (amaurosis fugax), slurred speech and mental
confusion. But unlike a stroke, the symptoms of a TIA can resolve within
a few minutes or 24 hours. Brain injury may still occur in a TIA
lasting only a few minutes. Therefore, they should not be ignored by
patients, relatives or doctors. Small stroke is a warning from God!
Stroke is popular in Nigeria
Every Nigerian knows someone within their
family, on their street, at their place of work, village or town who
has suffered a stroke. Stroke is next door and coming to a street near
you! It is the most popular horror movie in life. That someone hale and
hearty could suddenly go blind, deaf, become mute, have weakness on one
side and die without prior warning is your worst nightmare. Stroke is a
devastating illness which maims and kills Nigerians daily.
Is there stroke in your family?
Has a member of your family suffered a
stroke? Mine have, in large numbers. Many people in my family have
suffered devastating strokes and I am trying everyday to prevent stroke
in myself. I run, jog, do sports, exercise and watch what I eat on a
daily basis. Any indulgence, eating the biggest meat in the pot, the
most amount of food, fat or oily food, etc., is frowned at in my family.
The risk of further strokes is higher in
families with a history of stroke. If your father, brother or sister has
had a stroke, be very careful. Similarly, history of hypertension,
diabetes and heart attacks are important as risk factors for stroke in
the family.
Can you afford a stroke?
We are not managing stroke well at all.
We do not have the emergency numbers and ambulance services to deliver
patients to hospitals within an hour of a stroke, so doctors can at
least try to reopen the blocked vessels in the brain. We do not have the
clot-bursting drugs for removing the obstruction. Brain scans and other
required tests cost an arm and a leg (pun intended). We do not have the
means to investigate and treat acute stroke without asking for money.
So, if you come to one of Nigeria’s
premier hospitals without as much as N100,000, you may not get the
immediate life-saving care you need. Many come with just prayers and a
breath, expecting miracles. So, if God is busy elsewhere, what happens
to you or your family member?
Open a stroke account
It is vital to prevent stroke or else
open an account where you can save money should you suffer a stroke! The
minimum deposit is N100,000 but please save as much as N3,000,000
(three million Naira only). Regardless, just because you can afford it
is no excuse to have a stroke! What if you cannot write a cheque or even
remember the account password? So, please look after your blood
pressure, control diabetes, stop smoking, lose weight, exercise and keep
fit.
Sponsor Stroke Action, Nigeria
This article was sponsored by NIDAN:
Nigerians in Diaspora Alumni Network. The organisation provides a
platform for Diasporas to contribute to nation-building. Join NIDAN
today and let us transform Nigeria!
Other organisations and agencies are
invited to be part of the Stroke Action Alliance. Share the article,
engage with friends, family and call us for other ways you can help our
advocacy, especially with donations.
Call Florence on 08189999902 or email me today!
Stroke Awareness Advocacy
October is Stroke Awareness month, so
please support Stroke Action, Nigeria. Walk and Run is on October 25
and the Stroke Assembly comes up on World Stroke Day, October 29, 2014.
Help us get the message out about stroke!
Biodun Ogungbo - Punch
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