In case of stroke, call emergency number 112 immediately

The sooner treatment begins, the greater the chances of recovery. You should act at the first warning signs, after all, the Stroke the third leading cause of death.

A commonplace for doctors, but often still new territory for large parts of the population: a stroke is always a life-threatening emergency. "A stroke causes brain cells to die. It usually occurs very suddenly. The cause is usually a blood vessel blockage or a bleeding in the brain," explains Dr. Reinhold Lunow.

More than 250.000 people are affected every year throughout Germany. Half of all stroke patients are older than 70 years. Men up to their mid-80s are affected Disease significantly more often than women. And even young people and children are not spared.

To Heart attack and Cancer Stroke is the third leading cause of death, with one in four patients dying within a year. Not to forget: it is the most common cause of moderate or severe disability.

As an internist and medical director of the Practice Clinic for Prevention and Diagnostics in Bornheim near Cologne and Bonn, Dr. Lunow therefore advises quick action: "Disturbances in consciousness or motor deficits indicate that the brain is affected. In this case, it is important to act quickly: call the emergency doctor immediately on 112 and describe the symptoms. Under no circumstances should you wait to see whether the symptoms subside or disappear."

A stroke occurs suddenly

The affected person may complain of a sudden, very severe headache that occurs for the first time and suddenly fall down. There may be sensory disturbances and paralysis in the face with a drooping corner of the mouth, in the arm or one side of the body (hemiplegia). Speech disorders often make it difficult to describe the symptoms: the patient is suddenly no longer able to understand what is being said or to speak themselves.

Impairment of vision (double vision), dizziness and clouding of consciousness are also possible. Due to the paralysis, swallowing difficulties often occur. "Stroke patients should therefore not eat or drink anything or take any medication until the emergency doctor arrives," says Dr. Lunow. In an acute emergency situation, it is important to calm the affected person and make it clear to them that help is on the way. They should be placed on their back with their upper body slightly raised.

stroke due to blockage or bleeding

"A stroke, medically known as apoplectic insult, leads to a sudden loss of brain function caused by a circulatory disorder," says Dr. Lunow. In around 80% of all strokes, a blood clot (thrombus) causes a narrowing or complete blockage of a blood vessel (ischemic stroke or cerebral infarction). The areas of the brain that lie behind the narrowing in the blood supply are suddenly cut off from the supply of oxygen and nutrients. The immediate consequence: nerve cells die.

A thrombus can form over time within the vascular system. "Such a blood clot forms in the large vessels leading to the brain or in the heart when blood platelets stick together. If the person suffers from cardiac arrhythmia, the thrombus can detach from the vessel wall and travel with the bloodstream to the brain. There it gets stuck in the narrower vessels and blocks them," explains Dr. Lunow. Accordingly, heart diseases, especially cardiac arrhythmia (atrial fibrillation), a survived Heart attack or heart valve defects are risk factors.

Bleeding into the brain tissue, a so-called hemorrhagic infarction, can also trigger a stroke. The cause is often a weakening of the vessel walls due to arteriosclerosis or structural changes, such as an aneurysm, a pathological expansion or bulge.

"The vessel bursts because the vessel wall can no longer withstand the increased blood pressure," says Dr. Lunow. Subarachnoid hemorrhage can also cause a stroke if an arterial vessel bursts and blood flows into the space between the brain and the soft meninges (arachnoid).

The faster the stroke patient receives medical treatment, the greater his or her chances of survival and recovery. In the case of a vascular occlusion, lysis treatment should be started within three hours of the first symptoms appearing in order to dissolve the thrombus.

This is best done in a "stroke unit": a center specializing in acute strokes, where neurologists, internists, angiologists and cardiologists work together. Here, the exact cause of the stroke is determined using imaging techniques such as computer tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Sometimes those affected only experience brief, temporary symptoms. Doctors then speak of a transient ischemic attack (TIA). "Warning signals like these must also be taken seriously and immediately checked by a doctor, as they can be a precursor to a stroke," says Dr Lunow.

Other warning signs include short-term paralysis, weakness or numbness on one side of the body, brief blindness in one eye (amaurosis fugax) or visual disturbances with a restriction of the field of vision. Short-term spinning vertigo, unsteadiness when walking or balance problems must also be investigated immediately.

Knowing and treating your own stroke risk

The modifiable risk factors for stroke include Hypertension (hypertension), smoking and the diabetes (Diabetes mellitus). Blood coagulation disorders, lipid metabolism disorders, obesity, Sleep apnea, excessive alcohol consumption, migraines, chronicStress and lack of exercise increase the risk.

“A healthy lifestyle with a balanced Nutrition and regular exercise counteracts elevated blood pressure, blood fats and blood sugar levels," says Dr. Lunow. "Family predisposition must also be taken into account. If a stroke has already occurred in the family, it is essential to prevention go and have a heart and vascular health check-up Only if you know your individual risk can you take effective countermeasures."
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