Stroke is a life-threatening condition, and having AFib can increase the risk of stroke substantially. Therefore, it’s imperative to understand what stroke is, its symptoms, and what you can do to prevent it.
What is Stroke:
Our brain needs a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients to keep working. Thus, your heart puts effort into maintaining a continuous flow of blood to the brain. However, due to some underlying causes that contribute to clot formation, the blood flow gets disrupted. The clot clogs a blood vessel in the brain. This process is quite similar to an obstruction that chokes the drain, and as a result, no water flows down. Similarly, brain cells are deprived of blood due to blood clots jamming the inflow.
As these cells are heavily dependent on a rich blood supply, blood deprivation hits them hard. Consequently, the brain cells surrounding the clogged artery begin to die. Hence, stroke is a matter of utter emergency that requires immediate medical attention to help curb the damage caused by it. Therefore, one should keep an eye out for stroke symptoms and call the helpline as soon as possible.
Stroke Symptoms:
An occurrence of stroke is often accompanied by a partial loss of motor functions, such as:
- Numbness and paralysis in the face: You may feel drooping in facial muscle. As a result, part of the face and lips drop-down, without you having any control over them.
- Unable to feel your arm: The temporary paralysis and weakness also extend to your limbs. Consequently, you won’t be able to lift one or both of your arms and keep them in the extended position.
- Impaired Speech: You may experience slurred speech along with the inability to formulate proper words. Similarly, you will also experience hearing loss.
- Headache: You will experience a burst of sudden and sharp headache.
AFib and Stroke Occurrence:
AFib disrupts the normal flow of blood by the heart. As a result, blood stagnates in the heart and starts to clot. Consequently, the heart can pump blood clots all around the body, and it is very troublesome when the clot reaches and choke the brain arteries. Hence, AFib episodes can increase the risk of stroke.
Prevention of Stroke:
- Diet: A healthy diet is a secret of keeping ailments at bay. A diet low in fats and cholesterol keeps the arteries in fine shape and reduces blockage chances.
- Exercise: Along with diet, regular exercise plays a critical role in keeping the body and heart in prime shape.
- Drug inhibition: You need to cut down on alcohol and smoking as these habits can increase the risk of stroke and deteriorate the arteries’ condition.
- Managing underlying conditions: Some conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or AFib. However, these conditions are manageable, and experts at Atrial Fibrillation Center can help you manage your atrial fibrillation. You can also call us at 832-478-5067 for more inquiries.