How to outsmart a brain attack

MANILA, Philippines - You may have heard of a heart attack, but the concept of a brain attack might be one that is unknown to you. Well, you actually know it better than you think — “brain attack” is another term for a stroke, which happens when blood flow to your brain is blocked by blood clots, becomes insufficient because of constricted blood vessels or when bleeding occurs into and around the brain. Stroke is an emergency, but it is also potentially treatable and preventable.

The statistics are grim: Worldwide, one in six people will have a stroke in their lifetime. The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that in 2007 alone, stroke affected 486 out of 100,000 Filipinos. Furthermore, stroke is the second leading cause of death in the Philippines and the world. It is also the leading cause of disability with about 32 percent of stroke survivors rendered permanently disabled. In our country, there are about 320 neurologists, which means that there is only one neurologist for every 280,000 Filipinos.

As with many health conditions, awareness and education are always two of the best measures. In the Philippines, stroke experts of leading health institution Makati Medical Center delve deep into the inner workings of the dreaded brain attack and offer tips on how to safeguard oneself against the condition.

There are generally two broad categories of stroke: ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke.

Ischemic stroke is the type where blood flow to the brain is blocked or severely diminished. Ischemic stroke could either be thrombotic or embolic. Hemorrhagic stroke, on the other hand, occurs when bleeding into or over the surface of the brain results from a rupture of a weakened blood vessel or as abnormal vascular structure like an aneurysm or an arteriovenous malformation.

Certain people are at higher risk of suffering from a stroke — these are individuals with heart disease, high blood pressure (hypertension), and diabetes, as well as those who are overweight and who drink or smoke excessively.

Making simple yet necessary lifestyle changes may lower your predisposition to stroke. If you have hypertension, monitor your blood pressure regularly, manage stress and weight, and faithfully take your prescribed medications. Other general lifestyle habits that you can practice daily include improving your diet by doing away with food that’s high in cholesterol, sodium, and fat, by being active and exercising regularly to maintain a good level of fitness.

While almost 50 percent of stroke sufferers experience almost no symptoms prior to a stroke, there are still preventive measures that you can take to protect yourself from the condition.

First, know the warning signs. Familiarize yourself with the telltale symptoms of a stroke, especially if you have a higher risk of developing it. Some signs of stroke include a sudden numbness or weakness in your leg, arm or face (particularly if it occurs on just one side of the body), sudden confusion or trouble understanding, speaking, walking or seeing, sudden severe headache and dizziness.

The window of opportunity to treat stroke is limited. So if you think you are feeling the signs of stroke, ask to be brought to a hospital at once. It is best to be admitted to a hospital with a stroke unit. MakatiMed, for instance, has a fully equipped Acute Stroke Unit manned by a competent neurologist and other stroke experts for the diagnosis and management of ischemic stroke, cerebral hemorrhage, aneurysms, carotid disease, and vascular malformation of the brain.

For more information, visit the Makati Medical Center’s Department of Neurosciences at the 10th floor, Tower 1, Amorsolo St., Makati City on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 12 noon You may also call the MakatiMed 24/7 on-call hotline at 8888-999 local 2351, e-mail lifematters@makatimed.net.ph or visit www.makatimed.net.ph.