The brain is the most important organ in the body because it is the center that controls and coordinates all vital organs and body functions. Therefore, brain health is an essential part of your overall health. The best way to protect yourself and loved ones is to learn and understand brain diseases and disorders that affects the brain.

The most common brain disease is a cerebrovascular disease which we often refer to as a stroke. Recognizing sudden symptoms will help us survive this crisis.

What is a stroke?

Stroke is a disease that causes cerebrovascular abnormalities. The two main causes of a stroke are:

1. Ischemic stroke – the most common type and is caused when there is a narrowing or blockage of the brain’s blood vessel due to a plaque or blood clot that severely reduces blood flow. As a result, the brain is deprived of oxygen, resulting in cerebral infarction. In Thailand, ischemic stroke patients account for 70% of all stroke patients.

2. Hemorrhagic Stroke occurs when an a blood vessel ruptures or breaks open and leaks blood in the brain which can put pressure and damage the brain. High blood pressure and aneurysm are one of the conditions that can cause a hemorrhagic stroke.

Every minute after the onset of stroke symptoms, roughly 2 million brain cells will die, which can directly and indirectly affect the functioning of every organ in the body. A stroke is a medical emergency that can cause lasting brain damage, temporary or permanent disabilities, or even death.

Therefore, “time” and speed are the top determining factors on how much damage a stroke does to the brain. We can learn and remember the symptoms of cerebrovascular disease precisely by using the following mnemonic recommended by Dr. Napasri Chaisinanankun, Director of the Stroke Center at Phayathai 1 Hospital, called B-E-F-A-S-T

B: Balance – loss of balance, headache or dizziness

E: Eye – sudden blurred vision or abnormal field of vision

F: Face – one side of the face is drooping

A: Arm – weakness or numbness arms or legs, on either side of the body

S: Speech – slurred speech or speech difficulty

T: Time – if you observe any of these symptoms, Time to call an ambulance or emergency immediately

Risk factors for a stroke Stroke can affect people of any gender at any age. But a stroke most often occurs with patients aged 45 years and above which include other risk factors such as:

1. Congenital disease that directly affects blood vessels

2. High blood pressure

3. Hyperlipidemia

4. Diabetes

5. Heart disease, including arrhythmias and heart valve defects

6. Smoking

7. Obesity

8. Heredity in diseases at risk for vascular disease

Stroke risks can be reduced by making healthy changes like exercising regularly, choosing a healthy low-fat diet, reducing sugar and salt intake and getting enough rest. These changes will also lower the risk of other diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.

Treatment process when a patient has cerebrovascular disease

Stroke treatment process starts and depends on whether the stroke is ischemic or hemorrhagic, how much time has passed since symptoms started, and whether you have other medical conditions.

Phyathai 1 Comprehensive Stroke Center encompasses the full spectrum to provide comprehensive care for stroke patients, which include a team of highly qualified and experienced medical professionals with international standard equipment and services.

Our Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) is the first mobile stroke CT ambulance in Thailand, ready to diagnose and treat stroke patient’s as soon as it reaches their homes.

This specialized stroke mobile unit houses a laboratory with a CT scanner and equipped with the expertise of a medical team to perform stroke treatment at an immediate response time.

The goal of this medical stroke technology focuses on saving time which is the most important factor for the best outcome in treating the patient which includes giving thrombolytic drugs such as intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) within 4.5 hours from the first onset of stroke symptoms that can increase 32% chance of recovery from a disability to near relapse before entering the next step of the treatment process quickly like Clot Retrieval.