Today, I attended a talk at Fortis Hospital in Gurgaon. I found the talk very interesting and useful and therefore thought of sharing with you some of the important points which one should consider for the sake of his health at our age.
We all would have heard and known about STROKE and consider it mainly as Heart stroke. Many of us may not have heard or may not know details about BRAIN STOKE. While with Heart stroke, the fatality rate is high, but in case one survives, one can still lead a good life thereafter. On the other hand, in case of a Brain stroke, the damage is irreversible and while the fatality rate is lower, the life of a person becomes degenerated.
As per WHO findings, a brain stroke occurs every 53 seconds and at least one person dies every 3.5 minutes because of brain stroke and 75% cases are found to occur in persons over 65 years of age. Therefore, friends, at our age, it is very important for us to know about this issue and take precautions to prevent it.
What is Brain Stroke? Brain stoke occurs when ever there is sudden loss of blood to the brain either due to blockage in blood vessel to the brain ( called Ischemic stroke) or due to blood leakage in the brain ( called Hemorrhage). Ischemic stroke is more common of the two and sudden loss of blood to brain can be caused either due to blood clot in the veins to the brain or due to Thrombotic stroke.
Although, the medical treatment is available these days to treat brain stroke and prevent further damage to the brain, but by the time the patient is brought to the hospital and treatment is done, some damage is already done to brain cells which are irreversible. Therefore, everybody must take some precautions to prevent it at an early age itself, and it is said that 80% risk of occurrence can be reduced except for if the reasons are hereditary or genetic. The doctor advised following precautions for Brain stroke:
1. Regular and optimum exercise. What is optimum exercise? Doctors recommend 4 Km of brisk walking in 45 minutes at a stretch, at least 5 days a week for a normal adult. Any exercise more than this will not do any further good. Regular brisk walking would help in improving lipid profile in the blood, and help in release of happy hormones in the brain ( called Endorphins). Also helps in reducing stress levels. If one has not started this exercise for long and wants to start now, he or she should start it slowly starting from 10 minutes and going upto 45 minutes in 3 months period, under close observation. Persons having knee problems, can start with cycling and then move on to brisk walking as the knee pain gets relived.
2. Keep your weight under control. As obesity increases, the chances of diabetes and high cholesterol increases. Obesity can be controlled by a proper diet control, avoiding non healthy fats like hydrogenated oils and refined oils. Crash dieting is not a good idea for weight management.
3. Completely stop smoking.
4. Get your blood pressure and Lipid profile checked regularly. It is recommended that persons in age group of 30-45 years, should get these checked once in six months to one year, persons above 45 years of age , at least once a month and persons with history of hypertension and above 60 years of age, should get it checked every week or every fortnight.

These are some of the simple precautions which one can take very easily. Hope it will be useful information for all and is put down here in very simple language.

Doctors in this group may please correct me if some of the information which I gathered from the talk is incorrect. I would be obliged. more