Stroke is NOT a Heart Attack! + 5 Other Stroke MYTHS busted!
6 Myths on STROKE, busted!
Stroke affects the arteries that lead to the brain. This serious, life-threatening condition happens when blood supply to a part of the brain gets cut off.
Many myths surround this medical condition :
Myth 1: Only older people suffer from strokes
This isn't true - young people can experience strokes as well. About a quarter of stroke cases are reported by people aged 65 and below. More importantly, irrespective of the age group, the warning signs are the same; it is only in response that differences can be found between younger and older people.
Myth 2: Women don't suffer from strokes
The opposite is true. It is women who suffer strokes more often than men. This is because women tend to live longer than men whose longevity gets affected by heart disease. Since they live longer than men, they tend to be more vulnerable to strokes.
Myth 3: Strokes can't be prevented
Through changes in your lifestyle, strokes can easily be prevented. You can reduce your chances of getting a stroke by having a balanced diet, exercising, keeping an optimum body weight and limiting alcohol consumption as well as quitting smoking. Moreover, up to 80% stroke cases can be prevented by leading a healthy lifestyle.
Myth 4: Strokes aren't easy to recognise
Strokes can be easily diagnosed through the Face, Arm, Speech and Time test (FAST). If you suffer from slurred speech, facial droop or numbness on one side of the body, you're said to suffer from a stroke.
Myth 5: Strokes are similar to one another
This is another misconception about stroke. No two strokes are the same. While certain strokes happen when blood flow to the brain gets interrupted, there are others that take place when blood vessels in the brain get ruptured. Recovery depends on the extent of damage, the type of stroke and your health condition before the occurrence.
Myth 6: Strokes are a form of heart attack
Although strokes and heart attacks are closely related, they are not the same. In strokes, blood supply to the brain gets interrupted; on the other hand, in heart attacks, blood supply to the heart gets severely affected.
'Consult'.
Related Tip: How To Know If You're Getting A Heart Attack?