Stroke (Apoplexy): Recognize and Help
Because of high blood pressure the risk of having a stroke medically called an apoplexy increases. Other names are brain infarction or brain stroke formerly also called "Schlagfluss" and commonly just referred to as a stroke. Stroke is the third most common cause of death in Germany. Most strokes are caused by a blood clot, whose formation is often related to atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation, in turn, is usually associated with high blood pressure. Although strokes mainly affect older people, children, adolescents and young adults can also suffer a stroke.
In 2024 a study showed that high blood pressure particularly increases the risk of a severe stroke. A stroke is considered severe if the affected person can no longer walk or care for themselves afterward, or even dies from the event. 74% of those who had a severe stroke had high blood pressure. Those who suffered a mild to moderate stroke also had a pre-existing diagnosis of hypertension. The risk was also observed, though to a lesser extent, in participants with atrial fibrillation or who were smokers.
In 2024 a study showed that high blood pressure particularly increases the risk of a severe stroke. A stroke is considered severe if the affected person can no longer walk or care for themselves afterward, or even dies from the event. 74% of those who had a severe stroke had high blood pressure. Those who suffered a mild to moderate stroke also had a pre-existing diagnosis of hypertension. The risk was also observed, though to a lesser extent, in participants with atrial fibrillation or who were smokers.
What is a stroke?
A stroke happens when blood flow in the brain is disrupted. This causes the brain cells in the affected area to get too little oxygen and nutrients and to die. Two main types of stroke are distinguished: the ischemic (non-bleeding) stroke and the hemorrhagic (bleeding) stroke.
Ischemic (non-bleeding) stroke
There is an acute reduction of blood flow (ischemia) often caused by a blood clot. This form accounts for about 80 to 85 percent of all strokes. How severe the stroke is depends on which area of the brain is affected.
Hemorrhagic (bleeding) stroke
In this form the circulation problem is caused by bleeding in the brain. Because the brain is protected by the skull, a bleed inside the brain cannot form a visible bump on the outside. The escaped blood presses on the brain and therefore causes reduced blood flow or the reduced flow occurs because less blood reaches the downstream region. This is the cause in 15 to 20 percent of strokes.
How do I recognize a stroke?
There are certain signs that are very common with a stroke.
The best-known sign is weakness on one side of the body, which can be recognized by these symptoms:
- drooping corner of the mouth, drooping eyelid for example, drinks or saliva may flow uncontrollably from the mouth;
- one arm feels weak, cannot be lifted and the palm cannot be turned upward;
- slurred or unclear speech and/or difficulty understanding what is being said;
- unsteady walking, trouble walking, one leg not keeping up.
People may also have the following problems:
- loss of balance, dizziness;
- loss of half the visual field certain parts of normal vision may no longer be perceived;
- seeing double or blurred vision;
- sudden severe headache;
- nausea, possibly vomiting (Warning: risk of choking!);
- confusion, disorientation questions about name, date of birth, today's date and location may not be answerable or only insufficiently;
- reduced consciousness up to loss of consciousness.
What to do if you suspect a stroke?
If you suspect that you or the person in front of you may be having a stroke, please call the emergency number immediately at 112! " Time is brain"!
Follow the FAST method:
F Face: Ask the person to smile. If one side of the face does not move when smiling, or a mouth corner or eyelid droops, paralysis is likely and may indicate a stroke.
A Arms: Ask the person to hold their arms out in front and turn the palms upward either one arm at a time or both arms at once. If one arm hangs limp, paralysis is likely and may indicate a stroke.
S Speech: Ask the person to repeat a sentence or ask a simple question. If you notice slurred speech and/or the person, for example, cannot say their name or birthdate, this is a sign of a stroke.
T Time: Do not waste time! If you notice problems in F, A or S, call the emergency number at 112 immediately. " Time is brain"!
A Arms: Ask the person to hold their arms out in front and turn the palms upward either one arm at a time or both arms at once. If one arm hangs limp, paralysis is likely and may indicate a stroke.
S Speech: Ask the person to repeat a sentence or ask a simple question. If you notice slurred speech and/or the person, for example, cannot say their name or birthdate, this is a sign of a stroke.
T Time: Do not waste time! If you notice problems in F, A or S, call the emergency number at 112 immediately. " Time is brain"!
Stay with the person, place them with their upper body elevated, and watch them. Do not let them eat or drink the risk that they will choke because of the paralysis is high! If necessary, give first aid. If the person becomes unconscious but is breathing, put them in the recovery position. Check their breathing repeatedly. If the person stops breathing, start cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
If you are the one affected, get the nearest available person to you if possible. Wake your partner, call a neighbor, notify your children or relatives. Do everything to avoid being alone in this situation. Do not eat or drink! Do not exert yourself!
Wait for the emergency services! Do not drive yourself to the hospital! You may endanger yourself and others.
What else is important?
Open the door for the arriving emergency services. You can wedge a shoe or something similar in the door to keep it from closing. Be prepared that the situation may have worsened by the time the rescue service arrives, so you might not be able to open the door then.
For emergencies such as a stroke, it is helpful to have a current medication list on hand and any allergies noted.
"Time is brain" time is brain. That means the faster a stroke can be treated by medical professionals, the better the chances of survival and of keeping lasting damage to a minimum. The best time window to start so-called thrombolytic (lysis) therapy is up to 4.5 hours after the stroke.
What happens next?
The emergency services will get the person to the hospital as quickly as possible preferably to a stroke unit. In remote areas this may mean an air ambulance is needed. A stroke unit is a specialized ward for stroke patients.
At the hospital a CT (computed tomography) scan of the head will be performed. This imaging test shows whether, where, what type and how severe the stroke is. Depending on the findings, treatment will be started possibly thrombolysis to dissolve the clot that is blocking the vessel.
At the hospital a CT (computed tomography) scan of the head will be performed. This imaging test shows whether, where, what type and how severe the stroke is. Depending on the findings, treatment will be started possibly thrombolysis to dissolve the clot that is blocking the vessel.
Smile - speak - arms up
The cartoonist Ralph Ruthe made a funny music video about this serious topic. Humor helps to remember the symptoms:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmZZLGnbWxc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmZZLGnbWxc
Sources:
- https://www.netdoktor.de/krankheiten/schlaganfall/
- https://www.msdmanuals.com/de/heim/störungen-der-hirn-,-rückenmarks-und-nervenfunktion/schlaganfall-cva/Überblick-über-den-schlaganfall
- https://www.drk.de/hilfe-in-deutschland/erste-hilfe/schlaganfall/
- https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000210087
This article comes from BloodPressureDB – the leading app since 2011 that helps hundreds of thousands monitor their blood pressure every day.
Our content is based on carefully researched, evidence-based data and is continuously updated (as of 12/2024).
Author Sabine Croci is a qualified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as in outpatient care, and has led BloodPressureDB's specialist editorial team since 2015. Thanks to her extensive additional qualifications as a paramedic, first responder and in various therapy and emergency areas, she provides solid, practical and reliably reviewed information.
Author Sabine Croci is a qualified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as in outpatient care, and has led BloodPressureDB's specialist editorial team since 2015. Thanks to her extensive additional qualifications as a paramedic, first responder and in various therapy and emergency areas, she provides solid, practical and reliably reviewed information.
