On World Stroke Day, observed every October 29, the World Stroke Organization (WSO) and the Spanish Neurology Society (SEN) emphasize that strokes can occur to anyone at any time, highlighting their status as the leading cause of disability globally and the second leading cause of death, with many cases being preventable. “One in four of us will have a stroke. Don”t be that one,” they caution.
In Spain, strokes rank as the leading cause of death among women and the second among men. Also referred to as a brain attack or cerebral hemorrhage, a stroke occurs when the blood flow to the brain is disrupted. The causes vary depending on whether the stroke is ischemic or hemorrhagic: ischemic strokes occur when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in the brain, while hemorrhagic strokes occur when a blood vessel weakens and ruptures. This disruption can lead to parts of the brain dying due to a lack of oxygen and nutrients.
Maldita.es has addressed several myths and misinformation surrounding this cerebrovascular disease. One prevalent myth circulating on social media suggests four signs to identify if someone is having a stroke: asking the person to speak, raise both arms, smile, and blow, with a new addition of checking if the tongue is twisted. “While smiling, talking, blowing, and sticking out the tongue may indicate a stroke, the primary symptom to watch for is a sudden drooping of one side of the mouth,” the SEN advises.
They further highlight additional symptoms such as sudden weakness in the face, arm, or leg on one side of the body, altered perception of stimuli, feelings of numbness or tingling in the face, sudden partial or total loss of vision in one or both eyes, difficulty speaking and being understood, imbalance, sudden intense headache, and dizziness. While these signs can occur due to a stroke, the key indicator is the drooping mouth; if this occurs, it is critical to call emergency services immediately.
Another myth is the belief that pricking the fingertips can help someone who is experiencing a stroke. The SEN clarifies that there is no evidence supporting this claim. This misinformation has been circulating since at least 2003, as noted by Snopes. The proper response upon witnessing someone with stroke symptoms is to call emergency services without delay.
Furthermore, long-term sugar consumption significantly increases the risk of stroke. The American Heart Association links sugar intake to cardiovascular disease risk. José Atencia Goñi, an endocrinology and nutrition specialist at Vithas Madrid La Milagrosa, explained that obesity and diabetes are primary triggers for cardiovascular diseases, including strokes. “The obesity epidemic in the United States exemplifies the damage a sugar-rich diet can inflict on the population,” he stated.
In 2019, some media outlets reported that vegetarian and vegan diets may pose a higher stroke risk compared to meat consumption. Although the referenced study is legitimate and published in a scientific journal, the information provided was incomplete. The study concluded that individuals consuming plant-based diets (either fully or partially) had a lower risk of coronary heart disease compared to meat-eaters. The research involved 48,188 participants, none with a history of ischemic heart disease, stroke, angina, or cardiovascular disease. After more than 18 years of follow-up, researchers observed lower rates of ischemic heart disease among fish, vegetarian, and vegan consumers, although stroke rates were higher.
The authors of the study emphasized the need for further research to determine if these findings apply to different populations. They also pointed out that it is essential to identify potential factors that could explain the associations observed between diet type and disease, as these observational studies do not necessarily imply a cause-and-effect relationship.
For more detailed insights into stroke symptoms and prevention, the SEN and other organizations continue to advocate for awareness and education.
