Do You Know 'Stroke Day'? October 29 Is World Stroke Day

Brain and Vascular Diseases to Watch Out for in the Coldening Season

October 29 is World Stroke Day. Especially during this chilly season, it is important to be cautious of cerebrovascular diseases.
[Image source=Clipart Korea]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Do you know about ‘Stroke Day’?

October 29 is ‘World Stroke Day’ designated by the World Stroke Organization. Stroke, commonly known as Jungpung in Korea, is one of the major cerebrovascular diseases and a leading cause of death in South Korea.

As the weather gets chilly, especially in winter, the blood vessels in our body rapidly constrict due to the drop in temperature, causing blood pressure to rise and increasing the likelihood of cerebrovascular diseases such as stroke.

According to a 2019 announcement by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the monthly number of deaths from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases sharply increases from October, when temperatures begin to drop, peaks in January when temperatures fall drastically, and remains high until March, when there is a large temperature difference between day and night.

Our brain functions continuously and must be supplied with oxygen and glucose through the blood. However, stroke is a disease that occurs when the blood vessels supplying nutrients to the brain become blocked or burst, causing brain damage.

Stroke can cause neurological abnormalities such as speech impairment, unilateral paralysis, and consciousness disorders.

When the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain are blocked and brain cells die, it is called ‘cerebral infarction’ or ‘ischemic stroke,’ accounting for about 87% of all strokes. On the other hand, when a blood vessel bursts causing bleeding, it is called ‘cerebral hemorrhage’ or ‘hemorrhagic stroke.’ The brain tissue around the hemorrhage is destroyed, and the pressure in the brain increases due to the hematoma, which can cause various problems.

Stroke symptoms vary depending on the location and extent of the damage, but typical symptoms include severe headache as if hit by a hammer, severe dizziness, visual disturbances such as loss of vision in one eye or seeing multiple images, speech impairment such as slurred speech, and sudden unilateral paralysis.

A characteristic of stroke is the sudden onset of symptoms, and if promptly addressed and treated appropriately in the early stages, death or aftereffects can be reduced. If abnormal symptoms appear, one must immediately seek help by calling 119 or other emergency services and get to a medical emergency room as quickly as possible.

Dr. Kang Tae-ho, a neurologist at Daedong Hospital, said, “The golden time for stroke is within 3 hours,” adding, “Instead of waiting for family members or delaying, you should call 119 and get help.”

Dr. Kang advised, “Actions such as pouring water to revive the patient, slapping the cheek, massaging the legs, or pricking the fingertips with a needle should be avoided as they can worsen the symptoms.”

To prevent cerebrovascular diseases, one should practice ▲ quitting smoking ▲ abstaining from or limiting alcohol consumption ▲ low-sodium diet ▲ balanced nutrition ▲ exercising for more than 30 minutes with suitable activities ▲ maintaining appropriate body weight ▲ reducing stress ▲ regularly checking blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol ▲ and consistently treating underlying diseases.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.