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High blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, risk of serious stroke: study | India News – Times of India
In comparison, a new study published in the journal Neurology suggests that people with other risk factors, for example diabetes, physical inactivity, stress and alcohol consumption, have a lower risk of severe symptoms if they were to suffer from the neurological condition.
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, either due to a blockage in the blood supply to the brain (ischemic stroke) or due to leakage of blood from a burst blood vessel in the brain (haemorrhagic stroke). It can lead to complications such as swallowing problems, paralysis, memory loss, confusion and vision loss. The Neurology Study says their findings highlight the importance of control of hypertension in stroke preventionespecially in lower and middle-income countries, where rates of hypertension and stroke are rapidly increasing at younger ages.
According to World Stroke OrganizationPersistently high or elevated blood pressure causes the circulatory system – the heart, arteries and blood vessels – to work harder in their job of moving blood through the body. “This extra work causes damage that can cause your blood vessels, including those in your brain, to become harder and narrower over time. This process, known as atherosclerosis, increases the risk of blockages in the blood vessels in your brain. If blood flow to part of the brain is cut off or restricted, it can lead to permanent brain damage or death. Atherosclerosis can also increase the pressure at which blood flows through the blood vessels in the brain, causing them to burst and bleed, which can also cause permanent damage to the brain or death,” WSO explains.
Dr. Kameshwar Prasad, head of neurology department at Fortis Vasant Kunj, said high blood pressure and smoking can cause a severe stroke compared to other factors such as diabetes as they affect the large and medium arteries, unlike diabetes which has a greater effect has on the small arteries. . “The message to the public is that all adults should have their blood pressure checked at least once every two years and after 40 years once a year to prevent a serious stroke,” he said.
Dr. Prasad, who previously worked at AIIMS, conducted a study in Delhi as part of their global research to identify the role of lifestyle, genetic changes and other factors behind strokes and dementia. This showed that almost 70% of people over the age of 50 have high blood pressure. Smoking prevalence was found in 20% of respondents. Dr. Prasad said atrial fibrillation or irregular heartbeat was uncommon but its frequency increases with age.
The former AIIMS professor said timely administration of drugs to dissolve the clot can save many patients. “Some patients may also benefit from minimally invasive surgery to remove the blood clot,” he added.
