Why preventive screening matters at every age

Stroke is a critical condition affecting an increasingly younger population — most patients are between 19 and 55. It remains a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted by a narrowed, blocked, or ruptured vessel, which can lead to paralysis or death.

How many types of stroke are there?

Stroke can be classified into two main types:

1. Ischemic stroke — a brain artery narrows or is blocked, cutting off oxygen-rich blood.
2. Hemorrhagic stroke — high blood pressure or an aneurysm causes a vessel to rupture and bleed into the brain.

Warning signs — remember BE FAST

1. B — Balance: dizziness or loss of coordination
2. E — Eyes: blurred vision or vision loss
3. F — Face: drooping or numbness on one side
4. A — Arm: weakness or numbness in arm or leg
5. S — Speech: slurred or garbled speech
6. T — Time: every minute matters. Get to a hospital fast.

BE FAST signals an active stroke — get to a hospital immediately; the sooner care begins, the more treatment options remain.

Diagnosis

1. CT scan to identify ischemia or intracranial bleeding.
2. Blood tests to evaluate clotting and concentration.
3. MRI to study brain tissue and vessels.
4. ECG to detect arrhythmia and other cardiac causes.

Treatment

Treatment depends on whether the stroke is ischemic or hemorrhagic.

1. Ischemic stroke — thrombolytic therapy (rt-PA) or mechanical thrombectomy to remove the clot.
2. Hemorrhagic stroke — surgery and medication to control swelling.

Patient care after stroke

Once the acute phase stabilises, rehabilitation specialists guide recovery:

• Physical therapy — gait training and muscle reactivation.
• Occupational therapy — relearning daily activities like eating, dressing, and grooming.
• Speech-language therapy — articulation, swallowing, and communication practice.

With timely treatment and consistent rehabilitation, many patients return to near-normal life.