Be concerned: Things to know about strokes

1. Q: How do I know if I am at high risk of stroke?

A: People with one or more risk factors for cerebrovascular diseases are in a high-risk group.

The risk factors mainly include two categories:

One is called disease risk factors, including high blood pressure, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and heart disease. The other is behavior risk factors, including smoking, inactivity, weight gain and unhealthy diet.

People with one or more of these two types of risk factors are in high-risk groups. The more the risk factors, the higher the probability of stroke.

2. Q: Are males and females equally likely to have a stroke?

A: No. The probability of a stroke in males is 1.5 to 2 times higher than that in females.

3. Q: Are hand numbness and tinnitus symptoms of a stroke?

A: Hand numbness and tinnitus are not unique symptoms of stroke. The common manifestations of stroke are numbness of one limb, weakness of one limb or trouble in speaking.

4. Q: Will there be a relapse if one has had a stroke once?

A: The recurrence rate of stroke is high. Stroke patients in China have an average recurrence rate of 8 percent in about three months, an average of 10-15 percent in one year, and an average of 30 percent in five years. In other words, one out of every three patients will be back to hospital because of the same disease within five years.

5. Q: Why young people also have strokes?

A: Young people generally refer to those under 45. Bad living habits, pressure and air pollution may increase the probability of stroke in the young.

6. Q: Does stroke only occur at night?

A: There are actually two high-incidence periods of stroke; the more common one is from 6 to 9 o'clock in the morning, and the other is at night.

Strokes that occur from 6 to 9 o'clock in the morning are mostly related to blood pressure; those that occur in the second half of the night are mostly related to vascular stenosis.

People have high blood pressure between 6 and 9 o'clock in the morning, when the blood vessels have more pressure, which may cause cerebral hemorrhage. When people are quiet at night, blood pressure lowers and perfusion will be worse, which is likely to cause cerebral infarction.

7. Q: What is the most effective method to prevent stroke?

A: To find and remove all the risk factors.

8. Q: What should I do first if my family member has a stroke?

A: Three actions should be remembered:

1) Place the patient in the most comfortable position.

2) Unbutton the collar to avoid suffocation and tilt the patient’s head to one side.

3) Dial 120 to ask for an ambulance.

9. Q: How can I find the nearest hospital that can receive stroke patients as soon as possible?

A: There have been many apps of stroke centers and some have navigation for hospital locations.

10. Q: When is the best time to recover after a stroke?

A: Generally speaking, the sooner the better. Clinicians usually start recovery plans around 24 hours after the patient's condition is stable.