Caught off guard? Remember these points and be the guardian of your brain!

This is the 4957th article of Da Yi Xiao Hu

We all know that all human activities are directed by the body's "headquarters" - the brain. If there is a small problem with this "headquarters", our body will have a big problem. Now let's explore this very important topic for our body - "stroke".

Q1. Pronunciation of stroke

First, we need to conduct an in-depth discussion on the pronunciation of this word. The Chinese character "卒" is a polyphonetic character with two pronunciations, "zú" and "cù". So, in the word "stroke", should its correct pronunciation be "脑zú中" or "脑cù中"?

In Chinese, when the word "zu" is pronounced as "zú", it is often used to refer to soldiers in ancient armies or as a general term for soldiers. In addition, the word also implies the end or completion, such as the word "zhuye", which means completion of studies or graduation.

When the pronunciation of "卒" changes to another pronunciation, its meaning changes significantly. Under this pronunciation, "卒" is often used to express a state of haste and haste, such as the word "仓卒", which describes a situation of urgency and time pressure. The word "卒" under this pronunciation further highlights the atmosphere of urgency and haste.

For stroke, the disease is sudden and serious, often with a strong sense of urgency. When describing stroke, we often feel a sense of haste and haste. Therefore, when the word "卒" is pronounced as "cù", it emphasizes a more hasty and hurried situation, which is consistent with the sense of urgency brought about by emergency diseases such as stroke.

Q2. Definition of stroke

Stroke, also known as a heart attack, is a problem with the blood vessels in the brain that prevents the brain from getting enough blood.

Our brain is like a vast field, and each blood vessel in it is like a waterway that irrigates the field. Some are small rivers with abundant water flow, while others are trickles. When these "water flows" are blocked for some reason, such as being blocked by blood clots like stones, these water flows cannot flow smoothly to every corner of the brain, which leads to certain areas of the brain not getting enough nutrition and oxygen, which will cause some symptoms in our body and even affect our actions and thinking. Let's take a look at what symptoms our body will experience in case of stroke.

Q3. Stroke symptoms

Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body or in the upper or lower limbs; unclear speech or difficulty understanding what others say; squinting or staring, or blurred vision; mouth tilted to one side or drooling; headache, nausea or vomiting. These symptoms may be the brain sending us a distress signal, telling us that it is experiencing a crisis.

Once the above symptoms occur, we need to go to the hospital emergency room in time and let the doctor make a clear diagnosis through various examinations so as to carry out treatment. So what can we do to prevent stroke before it happens?

Q4. Stroke prevention

If we do the following things, we can become the guardian of the body’s “headquarters” – the brain!

Healthy eating

Eat more vegetables and fruits, eat less greasy and sweet foods, and control calorie intake. Make your body healthier and your brain more active! At the same time, people with chronic diseases should also choose a suitable diet according to their diseases. For example, people with high blood pressure need a low-salt diet, people with diabetes need a sugar-free diet, and people with kidney disease need a high-quality low-protein diet, etc.

Regular exercise

Go out for a walk, jog, dance, play ball, or other activities with family and friends to make your body stronger. Of course, exercise should be chosen according to each person's situation. Do not over-exercise, and choose the right time for exercise. For example, summer is coming soon, so do not choose a time when the temperature or humidity is high for outdoor exercise, and you also need to replenish water in time during exercise.

Get enough sleep

Go to bed early and get up early every day to ensure adequate sleep time so that your brain can get enough rest. Get rid of the habit of staying up late and take a nap for about half an hour at noon if you have the chance.

Stay away from bad habits

Don't watch TV, play with your phone, play cards, mahjong or computer games for a long time! This will make your eyes and brain very tired. And don't sit for a long time. If you sit for a long time, you need to stand up and walk around, twist your waist and raise your hands to prevent and treat blood clots in the lower limbs.

Q5. What should I do if I encounter a stroke?

In addition to the above, we must also learn to pay attention to the people around us. If you find that they suddenly speak unclearly, their hands and feet are not flexible, or their facial expressions become strange, you must tell them in time that there may be a problem with their cerebrovascular system, and you should see a doctor in time. If the situation is urgent, call the emergency number 120!

Stroke is a disease that affects the important command center of our body - the brain. No matter which part of the brain has problems, it will affect the activities commanded by this part of the brain. If it is not treated and treated in time, the sequelae will greatly affect our quality of life. Therefore, it is very important to recognize, detect and treat stroke in time, and more importantly, to prevent the occurrence of stroke. This requires us to do this from all aspects of daily living habits, eating habits, and follow-up treatment of chronic diseases.

Finally, I hope everyone can become the guardian of their own “brain” and the brain of those around them, protecting our health and our happiness!

Author: Emergency Department, Yan Chai Hospital

Teng Lu, Head Nurse