World Stroke Day

A stroke is a brain attack which occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is cut off.  Stroke’s are a leading cause of disability globally. Depending on which part of the brain is affected and how quickly the treatment is received, the effects of stroke can be devastating to a person’s body, mobility, speech and overall mental health. During a stroke, 1.9 million neurons are lost every minute, making the identification of warning signs essential to receiving timely treatment.

Types of stroke:

1. Ischemic stroke: This happens in about 87 percent of all stroke cases. It  occur as a result of an obstruction within a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain. The underlying condition for this type of obstruction is the development of fatty deposits lining the vessel walls. This condition is called atherosclerosis.

2. Hemorrhagic stroke:

Hemorrhagic stroke accounts for about 13 percent of stroke cases. It results from a weakened vessel that ruptures and bleeds into the surrounding brain. The blood accumulates and compresses the surrounding brain tissue.

Strokes can strike anyone, anytime. Acting in the golden hour can help save a patient’s life. Strokes are the second leading cause of death, 17 million people suffer a stroke each year and 6.5 million die as a consequence. A stroke can happen at any age, it affects one in six people experiencing a stroke during his/her lifetime.

Although no one can predict when a stroke might happen, there are some common signs that may indicate someone is having a stroke. The FAST test is an easy way for everyone to remember and recognize the signs of stroke.

FAST stands for Face, Arms, Speech and Time to act:

Face –Check their face. Has their mouth drooped?

Arms – Can they lift both arms?

Speech – Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?

Time – Is critical. If you notice any of these warning signs, act FAST. Call your local emergency medical services or get to the nearest hospital immediately.

Disorders after Stroke

The following disorders can occur in the aftermath of a stroke and they affect the majority of stroke patients:

Pain
Paralyzed shoulder muscles are not able to help tendons keep the upper end of the arm in the shoulder joint. As a result the arm drops from the joint which is very painful and can prevent rehabilitation of the hand and arm.

Depression
Depression after stroke, as after any severe illness, is very common, often goes without diagnosis, reduces the patient’s capacity for rehabilitation, and impairs his/her quality of life. Furthermore this affects not only stroke survivors but also their spouses or care takers.

Cognitive decline
Stroke can lead to cognitive decline, and it is even more common after a recurrent stroke. This is also the case after recurrent subclinical strokes which are often not diagnosed due to missing classical symptoms of stroke. Yet, they cause more and more damage and reduce the mental capacity of patients.

Spasticity
Brain injury from stroke sometimes causes paralyzed muscles to involuntarily contract (shorten or flex) after trying to move a limb. This creates stiffness and tightness. The contracted muscles often freeze the joints of the hand and arm permanently into an abnormal and often painful position.

How to reduce your risk of stroke

90% of strokes are linked to 10 avoidable risks, take care of these risk factors to avoid Stroke:

• Control high blood pressure
• Do moderate exercise 5 times a week
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet
• Reduce your cholesterol
• Maintain a healthy BMI or waist to hip ratio
• Stop smoking and avoid second-hand exposure
• Reduce alcohol intake
• Identify and treat atrial fibrillation
• Reduce your risk from diabetes, talk to your doctor
• Get educated about stroke

Meet our Stroke specialists at our Centre for Neurosciences for any Stroke concerns. Our comprehensive stroke program gets activated when any Stroke emergency calls are received. For more information visit:
https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/centresofexcellence/centrefor_neurosciences/stroke.html

Are you recovering from post Diwali binging? Have you fared badly in your recent medical reports? It is time to do a reality check and make some changes in your lifestyle as well as in your diet. Now that the festivities are over it is time to take some control of your health. It not only benefits you internally but also makes a huge difference to the way you look and your overall energy levels.

It is best to keep it simple and follow some basic rules. Create a balance in your life and eat all food groups equally. Instead of going on a crash diet it is recommended that you promise to keep up to your diet daily by creating a life-style change.

The extra sweet treats this Diwali have not gone very well with your bodies. Apart from the extra weight the body’s digestive has found it difficult to assimilate the festive diet- rich in fats, sugar and carbohydrates as well as alcohol for some. This leads to indigestion, bloating or heaviness. Here are some tips to give your body a break and up your health quotient:

• Say no to white foods, yes you got it right, stay away from all white breads, rice, maida, sugar and any kind of white processed ingredients. This is challenging but worth the effort.
• Always be hydrated and have enough water daily. It helps flush out excess sugar and fats in the body. Stick to a minimum of two litres and maximum of four litres.
• Start your day with some lemons and warm water. From bloating to indigestion, lemons can naturally cure everything related to your digestive system.
• Instead of having full meals, choose large bowls of vegetable soup to fill yourself. Add a variety of vegetables and spices. Vegetable soup provides the liver with a swell of antioxidants as well as potassium which creates an alkaline atmosphere required to eliminate toxins from the body.
• Practise yoga. It helps strengthen your body and breathing purifies your complete organ system.
• Avoid skipping meals, instead stick to small frequent meals throughout the day and have plain roasted, steamed, grilled vegetables.
• Avoid those so called diet munchies & chips. They are ultimately processed and high in sodium adding to the next day puffiness.
• You can also include lots of fluids in the form of water , green tea, vegetable juices, coconut water, buttermilk in your daily meals.
• Have light meals like khichdi ,or porridge. They are all easy to digest and help in keeping the system light. They are not only nourishing and filling but also prevent you from reaching out for that packet of chips. Along with being light, they also aid the body in digestion, provide energy and strengthen the immune system.
• Fruits are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibres; hence you should include at least 3-4 servings of colourful fruits through the day. These nutrients act as building blocks for the body as growth of each cell depends upon them. The fibre in fruits specifically helps cleanse the toxins lining the intestinal walls.

For a detailed plan and personalised diet plan do visit the Nutrition department at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital. Please refer below link for more details.

https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/clinicaldepartments/nutrition.html

Diwali – the festivals of lights and happiness is here. Let us celebrate Diwali in a healthy way and by following simple ways in which we can spread happiness to others too. This Diwali say “No” to crackers. Celebrate an eco -friendly Diwali to reduce noise, sound and air pollution. Also, the weather is playing havoc this festive season spreading various illnesses due to the sudden change in temperatures.

Eat mindfully this Diwali.

Here are few ways to eat healthy this Diwali:

1. Avoid bingeing food at odd hours.
2. Say “No” to sugary beverages and sweets that add unnecessary calories and result in disastrous health outcomes.
3. Eat at regular intervals to keep your metabolism revved up. Have mini-meals rather than large meals at one go.
4. Choose baked or air fried Diwali goodies over deep fried ones.
5. Dry fruits are also an extremely healthy option and go well with the festive mood.
6. Try to include a small 20 minute exercise schedule in your busy day.
7. Be hydrated with natural drinks like buttermilk, lemon juice, and fresh fruit juices to be high on energy.
8. Have a mini-meal at home before stepping out for  Diwali dinner, that makes you eat small portions outside.
9. Stay away from alcohol this season to ensure less calorie intake.
10. Avoid ‘chhena’ and ‘khoya’ sweets and milk products from outside shops. Mithais are best when made at home.

Diwali and Pollution

Respiratory ailments rise up during Diwali days. It is sad to see elderly, infants, pets and asthma patients suffer with various kinds of pollutants. Avoid crackers completely and if it is not possible then reduce the numbers. A visual cracker show must be arranged for groups of people to reduce overall usage of crackers.

Some of the precautions to take during Diwali:

1. Take care of the elderly, asthma patients, cardiac patients and infants during Diwali.
2. Limit the use of crackers and abstain from using loud explosives.
3. Never burn rockets facing buildings or windows.
4. Pay attention to the health concerns of the society and be sensitive towards your neighbours.
5. Wear face masks to prevent inhaling the poisonous mix of gases  and ear plugs to minimize the impact of the high decibel explosions.
6. Never leave the crackers half burnt; always douse them in water before disposing.
7. Always burn crackers in an open area.
8. Wear cotton clothes while burning crackers.
9. Children must be accompanied by adults while burning crackers.
10. Keep any inflammable substance away from crackers to avoid accidents.

Wishing you all a very Happy and Safe Diwali. Stay healthy and happy this Diwali! In case of any medical emergencies please contact our team of doctors at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital.  Our Full Time Specialist System ensures availability and access to the best medical talent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please visit our website for more details: https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/