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Stroke occurs due to an injury to a blood vessel in the circulation of the central nervous system most often in the brain but also in other structures such as the cerebellum, brain stem, or, rarely, the spinal cord. Time in diagnosis and treatment is the key to reducing the consequences caused by the disease.
“The Via Verde do AVC, activated by calling 112, is organized in Portugal to quickly send patients to hospitals that can provide the appropriate treatment. But for the treatment to be successful, time is of the essence,” adds Dr. José Castro Lopes, president of the Portuguese Society of AVC.
The president of SPAVC explains that “there is a therapeutic window for the treatment of stroke, that is, an optimal time to intervene in order to minimize damage to the central nervous system”.
“This therapeutic window, in most cases, lasts a few hours, which determines the need for quick care for people with acute stroke,” he says. Not taking care of the patient within that time can result in death or a high degree of disability.
6.5 million lives are lost
More than 6.5 million lives are lost each year worldwide and 1 in 6 people will have a stroke. In Portugal, three people per hour suffer a stroke, one of whom ends up dying and at least half will have disabling consequences.
Stroke can affect anyone, at any age, at any time and affects everyone: survivors, family members, friends, healthcare professionals, workplaces and the community at large. Responding to warning signs quickly can mean the difference between recovery and disability.
How to identify a stroke?
The appearance of one of the so-called “3Fs” is enough: difficulty speaking; Face deviation (Mouth to the side); Lack of strength in an arm, to suspect a stroke and immediately call 112. Via Via Verde AVC, patients will be able to quickly reach hospitals that can provide adequate treatment.
Women are at greater risk throughout their lives, mainly because more women have cerebral vascular disease due to their increased longevity. The woman also has more arrhythmias, especially atrial fibrillation. On the other hand, women tend to suffer from more hypertension than men after menopause and have a higher risk of stroke due to diabetes.
But the disease is not exclusive to some age groups. Young people and children can also suffer a stroke.
The disease affects around 30,000 people a year in Portugal, mainly the population under 65.
The Portuguese Stroke Society (SPAVC) adheres to the World Stroke Organization (WSO) and remembers some of the steps that can contribute most decisively to stroke prevention.
Take note:
– Regularly measure and control blood pressure (BP), reducing the amount of salt added to food; 30% of strokes can be prevented by lowering BP.
– Disseminate the need to quit smoking; Stopping tobacco use can reduce stroke by 35%.
– Control of diabetes and cholesterol; your cholesterol and glucose values should be within the normal range.
– Practice regular physical activity, fighting a sedentary lifestyle; 30 minutes of daily exercise can reduce the risk of stroke by 20%.
– Control weight, as obesity increases vascular risk; it is advisable to increase the consumption of vegetables while maintaining a balanced diet.
– Early detection of atrial fibrillation (AF), periodically checking if the heartbeat is rhythmic, palpating the pulse; AF increases the risk of stroke and requires corrective medications.
– Limit the consumption of alcoholic beverages; alcohol increases blood pressure and increases the risk of stroke. Finally, underlining “that prevention is better than cure”, the president of the SPAVC Management left a challenge to the population, “prevention is in your hands. Be proactive! “.
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