O stroke (Cerebral Vascular Accident) kills more than 5 million people a year around the world. In Brazil, 110,000 deaths were recorded from the condition in 2023 alone. One of the main risk factors is hypertension which can be controlled by adopting healthier lifestyle habits, such as a balanced diet and reducing a sedentary lifestyle.
This is the theme of the new episode of “CNN Vital Signs – Dr. Kalil Interview “, which will air on Saturday (13), on CNN Brasil. To talk about symptoms, treatment and, above all, prevention, dr. Roberto Kalil receives Sheila Martins, president of World Stroke Organizationand Rogério Tuma, neurologist at Hospital Sírio-Libanês.
There are two types of stroke: ischemic and hemorrhagic . The first, more common, occurs when there is obstruction of an artery responsible for supplying the brain. Already the hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel ruptures. Despite being less common, it is more serious and presents a greater risk of sequelae.
The invited experts provide important guidance for identifying stroke symptoms. “It has an easy-to-remember acronym called SAMU. It was created by students at the Federal University of Bahia, so that people remember the main symptoms. Then the 'S' for 'smile', to see if the mouth becomes crooked. The 'A' in 'hug' for the person to raise their arms to see if one arm is weak. The 'M' stands for 'message', 'music', so I asked the person to say something and see if they are saying it well. And the 'U', for 'urgent', call SAMU 192”, explains Martins.
It is also important to identify risk factors to initiate preventive measures against stroke. “In young women, for example, what we always have to think about is the use of hormones. The use of the pill to avoid pregnancy, which in itself increases the risk of thrombotic events, of forming clots”, says Tuma.
Prevention also involves combating a sedentary lifestyle
According to experts, the stroke prevention It must be done by controlling diet, cholesterol and combating a sedentary lifestyle. “Whatever works well for the heart works for the brain,” says Tuma.
“Stroke is the disease that kills the most, it is the disease that causes the most hospitalization. The incidence of myocardial infarction has gone down, because infarction already has a culture of decades of emergency treatment. Today it is the neurological disease that has the most negative economic effect. Because 1/3 of patients leave with significant consequences that demand the life of another person, someone in the family or a caregiver. So the impact is more than R$30 billion”, says the neurologist.
Therefore, doctors warn of the importance of seeking medical care as quickly as possible, to reduce the risk of sequelae. If the sequelae still exist, it is essential to undergo rehabilitation so that these patients can readapt to their new life.
“CNN Sinais Vitais – Dr. Kalil Interview” will air on Saturday, April 13, at 7:30 pm, on CNN Brasil.
Source: CNN Brasil
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