Don't be subjective with stroke

Currently, the rate of young people suffering from strokes (also known as apoplexy) is increasing. Over the past year, the Provincial Rehabilitation Hospital has received more than 10 stroke patients aged 26 - 40.

In October 2023, Mr. Nguyen Quang Hiep, 33 years old, a physical education teacher in Luc Yen (Yen Bai) suffered a stroke due to high blood pressure. After receiving acute treatment in Hanoi, Mr. Hiep went to Lao Cai Provincial Rehabilitation Hospital for treatment in a state of complete paralysis, with no upper and lower limb muscles. After 3 months of treatment, Mr. Hiep's health improved significantly, he could walk relatively well, however, his hand function was still limited.

A healthy 29-year-old man with a tall body, one morning after waking up, Mr. Vu Ngoc Trai in Ban Vuoc (Bat Xat) suddenly suffered from hemiplegia due to a stroke. His family took him to the provincial General Hospital for emergency treatment, then he continued to undergo 5 treatment sessions at Lao Cai Rehabilitation Hospital. Currently, every day, Mr. Trai is still treated by doctors and technicians using motor rehabilitation methods to treat the sequelae of hemiplegia.

Technician Tran Anh Lanh, Deputy Head of the Therapy Department, Provincial Rehabilitation Hospital said: Stroke often occurs suddenly when the blood supply to the brain is blocked, interrupted or reduced. At that time, the brain lacks oxygen and nutrients and brain cells begin to die within minutes. People with stroke have a high risk of death if not detected and treated promptly. This is one of the most dangerous and common neurological diseases today. While in previous years, stroke patients were often between the ages of 70 and 80, over the past year, we have received more than 10 stroke patients aged 26 to 40.

The golden treatment time for stroke patients is from 0 to 3 months for the patient to recover quickly and most effectively. Doctors and technicians at the Traditional Medicine Hospital perform many different methods such as acupuncture, massage, acupressure, cupping, thread implantation and rehabilitation of motor function, endovascular laser... Currently, the hospital has invested in 2 shock wave machines to support the treatment of stroke patients. This is a modern machine that uses mechanical waves to use force to dissolve fibrosis, increase nutrient circulation to the painful area, promote tissue and cell recovery and reduce pain, helping to restore mobility for the patient.

Severe strokes can lead to death. Young people who are healthy and have a mild stroke, if detected early and treated properly, will have a good chance of recovery. However, young people are the main breadwinners in the family, at an age with many plans and ambitions, so when they have a stroke that leads to paralysis, limited motor function, language, and daily activities, they often feel stressed and depressed.

Technician Tran Anh Lanh said: There are patients with symptoms of depression, so we have many difficulties in treatment. Therefore, in addition to the usual rehabilitation measures, we apply psychotherapy methods, relieve stress for patients, organize group activities to help them integrate and accept their condition. In addition, we also regularly share with the patient's relatives so that they can cooperate in supporting daily exercise and encourage the patient's psychology.

According to Mr. Lanh, stroke patients need to follow the doctor's prescription to avoid another stroke because the first time the patient can fully recover, but the next time the sequelae can be more severe and difficult to recover. Young people should not be subjective with strokes. To prevent them, they need to eat scientifically, not eat a lot of fat, organs, eat a lot of green vegetables; do not abuse alcohol, beer, stimulants; need to have regular health check-ups every 6 months to detect early vascular diseases and other diseases, risk of high blood pressure... People who have the habit of bathing at night need to change because night is the time for the internal organs to rest, should not bathe after 10 pm, especially those with atherosclerosis.

At the Provincial General Hospital, doctors have mastered the technique of ventricular drainage, treating cerebrovascular accidents with thrombolytic drugs and have successfully treated many patients with cerebral stroke using this method. Patients need to be treated with thrombolytic drugs within 3 hours from the time of symptom onset. If the drug is used early, every 15 minutes, the rate of disability will be reduced by 4%. There have been many heartbreaking cases of severe sequelae after stroke, and there have also been cases of death due to stroke when they were only in their 20s. Therefore, young people need to have a positive lifestyle and have regular health check-ups to screen for risks and protect their health.

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