Da Nang witnessed a significant increase in the number of hospitalized stroke patients before and after the Tet holiday. The increase is mainly attributed to cold weather combined with the habit of using beer and other alcoholic beverages among local residents during Tet. It is alarming that strokes in young adults are on rise in the city. These people are advised to take preventive measures to prevent a stroke as well as get immediate treatment to avoid severe stroke-related problems.

A nurse at the Da Nang General Hospital taking care of a female stroke patient. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

The Stroke Department of the Da Nang General Hospital recently received a 57 year- old man, a resident of Thanh Khe District, who was in a coma and was speechless. The patient with diabetes and high blood pressure has maintained a morning exercise routine for many years. Sudden cold weather which arrived in the city after Tet made him feel tired and develop signs and symptoms of a stroke. His family members quickly took the patient to the Da Nang General Hospital for emergency treatment, and he was then transferred to the Stroke Department for immediate treatment. The patient got better one week after treatment, and his recovery rate achieved 60%, the hospital’s doctors said. However, it takes the patient a long time to make a full recovery from stroke. He is recommended by the doctors to change his habits to reduce his risk of a second stroke.

A 40 year- old man is a critically ill stroke patient who is residing in An Hai Tay Ward, Son Tra District. He had a severe headache and felt dizzy, experienced weakness in his arms and legs, and then fell into a coma after waking up in the morning. He was rushed to the emergency room by his family. Currently, the patient is in a coma and brain swelling occurs in him. As a result, doctors must use fibrinolytic therapy to dissolve blood clots which are the main cause of a stroke.

The patient's family said that the patient used a lot of alcohol, including beer, before, during, and after Tet as he attended lunar year-end and lunar new year parties but he did not have any symptoms or health problems.

Data published by the Stroke Department of Da Nang General Hospital showed that 100 stroke patients of all ages are under treatment at the Department.

Doctor Duong Quang Hai, the Deputy Manager of the Stroke Department of the Da Nang General Hospital, said that the Unit has provided treatment for a combined total of more than 400 stroke patients over the past one month. Concerns have been raised over the alarming number of young stroke patients as stroke does not only happen to older people with certain underlying medical conditions, but it can strike anyone, at any time.

“Bad health habits are one of the main causes of strokes in young people, including drinking too much alcoholic beverages and smoking a lot. Knowing the signs of stroke and acting quickly can make the difference between saving a life and a tragic outcome. The reason the first hour is golden is because stroke patients have a much greater chance of surviving and avoiding long-term brain damage if they immediately arrive at the hospital and receive treatment. On the contrary, any delay may lead to one side of their body paralyzed or weakened, permanent brain damage or even death.," remarked Doctor Hai.

Stroke is a sudden interruption of the blood supply to the brain, and it can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death. Some people have strokes without realizing it. They are called silent strokes, and they either have no easy-to-recognize symptoms. However, they do cause permanent damage in your brain. Immediate medical attention may prevent life-threatening complications, more widespread brain damage, and is critical for the recovery. Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke, and it develops due to a blockage in the arteries around the brain. As a result, early intervention is vital. An ischemic stroke occurs due to atherosclerosis, which causes fatty deposits and a buildup of cholesterol plaque in the blood vessels. When too much plaque collects in one spot, it can block the blood flow to vital organs. A blood clot may stick to a plaque buildup while passing through the blood vessels, which also creates a blockage. The neck contains carotid arteries, which are blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. If plaque blocks a carotid artery (carotid artery disease), a stroke might occur. Atherosclerosis is largely symptomless. Therefore, many people do not know they have atherosclerosis until they have a stroke or experience the other effects of blocked arteries near different organs, such as a heart attack. Older adults who have chronic medical conditions such as diabetes or hypertension are most at risk for a stroke.  Ischemic strokes are by far the most common in older adults, and many are linked to heart problems such as coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation. Bad health habits such as drinking a lot of alcoholic beverages, including beer, and travelling in cold temperatures can cause arrhythmia, shortness of breath, palpitations, and other health problems, leading to pulmonary embolism.

The best way to help prevent a stroke is to eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and avoid smoking and drinking too much alcohol, as well as practice healthy sleep habits by going to sleep and waking up at the same times every day. Older adults need to go for a medical checkup regularly to help them reduce their risk of getting sick, especially prevent stroke.  

In addition, special attention should be paid to spotting warning signs and symptoms of a stroke such as facial weakness, arm weakness and difficulty with speech in your family members, and they need to get to the hospital immediately as they require urgent medical intervention and the brain cannot tolerate a lack of blood supply for long. The “golden hour” is proving to live up to its name, even for patients with one of the most serious forms of ischemic stroke. Currently, the golden hour is 4 to 5 hours from time of stroke symptom onset. The earlier the treatment, the better the outcome. The benefits of clot buster in patients with acute ischemic stroke are time-dependent, and guidelines recommend a door-to-needle time of 60 minutes or less, " said Doctor Hai.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG – Translating by H.L