Stroke

The brain is an organ that uses a substantial portion of the body's blood supply. If a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain becomes blocked or ruptures, brain cells in the affected area begin to suffer damage within minutes. This is a stroke, traditionally called jungpung in Korea.

There are two main types.

• Cerebral infarction (ischemic): A blood clot blocks a vessel, cutting off blood flow. This accounts for most strokes.
• Cerebral hemorrhage (hemorrhagic): A blood vessel ruptures, causing bleeding within the brain or on its surface.

High blood pressure, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, high cholesterol, smoking, and lack of exercise are known risk factors. The risk increases with age, but strokes can also occur in young people.

With a stroke, time is brain. The sooner treatment begins, the greater the chance of reducing brain damage. If even one of the following signs appears suddenly, call 119 immediately.

• Face: One corner of the mouth droops when smiling, or the face looks uneven.
• Arm: One arm or leg becomes weak or numb, making it difficult to lift.
• Speech: Speech becomes slurred, words are difficult to get out, or understanding what others say becomes difficult.
• Other signs: Loss of vision in one eye or double vision, or the sudden onset of an unusually severe headache, dizziness, or difficulty maintaining balance.

Do not wait even if symptoms seem to improve, and remember the time they began. Calling an ambulance rather than driving yourself can get you treated sooner. Do not take medicines such as aspirin on your own. They may actually be dangerous if the stroke involves bleeding.

The effects vary depending on which part of the brain is damaged. Hemiplegia, involving weakness of the arm and leg on one side, is common, and muscles may become stiff (spasticity) or balance may become difficult. Speech or swallowing may become difficult, and Dysphagia may develop. The risk of falling while walking increases, so care is needed to prevent Falls.

Even after injury, the brain has the ability to reorganize its own pathways. This is called Neuroplasticity. Nearby undamaged areas can take on a share of the work, allowing movement to be relearned, and Rehabilitation uses this ability. Repeating the same movement and deliberately using the affected side are considered important forms of training.

Rehabilitation usually begins in the hospital. A physician-led team of physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and nurses works on walking, hand use, speaking, and swallowing in stages. After returning home, it is good to continue every day as much as possible.

If you are looking for a professional to help with body care, keep these points in mind.

• Stroke diagnosis, medication management, and rehabilitation planning are the responsibility of your treating physician and rehabilitation team. Body care supports this work rather than replacing it.
• Sensation may be reduced in the affected limbs, so strong pressure, heat, and excessive stretching should be avoided. Ask for gentle treatment with comfortable pressure.
• Before treatment, tell the practitioner when you had the stroke, what medicines you take (especially medicines that prevent blood clotting), and which areas are paralyzed.

Manual approaches, including Integrative Manual Therapy (IMT), describe gently releasing tight muscles and fascia to help make movement easier as an approach to working with people with neurological conditions. These are strictly supportive approaches used alongside the rehabilitation team.

• Check your blood pressure: Blood pressure is the most important risk factor. Measure it regularly at home as well.
• Walking: Keep up a regular routine of brisk walking for about 30 minutes a day.
• Quit smoking and limit alcohol: Smoking directly damages blood vessels.
• Regular checkups: Have your blood sugar, cholesterol, and any irregularity in your pulse checked regularly.