Stroke symptoms quickly

Stroke: recognize symptoms quickly and act

30/10/2014

Around 260,000 people in Germany suffer a stroke each year. It is the second leading cause of death worldwide and the leading cause of disability in adulthood worldwide. Therefore, in a stroke: The faster the cerebral infarction is treated, the better the prognosis for the patient, as the German Stroke Society (DSG) and the Foundation German Stroke Help in a joint press release announced.

For this purpose, it is absolutely necessary to recognize the stroke as quickly as possible based on its typical symptoms, so that the emergency care can be initiated immediately. In order to achieve this goal, more people will be informed about the symptoms in the future. Because only the stroke victims, who would be admitted to a clinic within the first hours after the attack, could be adequately supplied with the lysis therapy. The therapy then dissolves the clots on medication. This is what doctors point out in the context of the world stroke day. There are over 60 so-called stroke units, which held information events for the prevention and treatment of strokes.

The objectives of the education campaign are, on the one hand, to explain the risks and symptoms of stroke and, on the other hand, to bring knowledge to the attention of the population.

Already in 2010 there had been such a campaign, which was rated very successfully. Professor Dr. med. Joachim Röther, press spokesman of the DSG: „We wanted to find out how well lay people recognize a stroke and whether they are familiar with the important steps in an emergency. Because the sooner the emergency call is made and the rescue chain is initiated, the better the chances for the patient. Stroke units were informed about the stroke in 2010 and 565 people took part in the survey before and after the event. „The knowledge of key symptoms such as unilateral paralysis, emotional, visual and speech disorders, gait insecurity as well as sudden headaches could be significantly increased in this action, "says Röther in the joint press release of the DSG and the Foundation German Stroke Assistance.Therefore, regular educational events to the compulsory events of each Stroke Unit certified by the DSG and the German Stroke Help.

At the center of this year's World Strokes Day, according to a joint press release, is prevention. People with hypertension, heart disease and diabetes are at the heart of the vulnerable risk group. However, Prof. Dr. med. Gerhard f. Hamann, 1st Chairman of the DSG and Director of the Department of Neurology and Neurological Rehabilitation at the District Hospital Günzburg: „Even small lifestyle changes can reduce your risk of having a stroke: abstaining from smoking, achieving normal weight and exercising regularly can do a lot. "(Jp)