A stroke is a medical emergency that takes place when blood flow to a part of the brain is blocked or a blood vessel bursts, causing brain cells to die. It is a very serious condition that requires a person to get immediate medical assistance.
A stroke, no matter how minor, is a serious medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention. Waiting for the symptoms to resolve on their own is a serious mistake that one can make in such a situation.
As per Dr Chawla, “Stroke symptoms can sometimes improve within a few hours. This can be a TIA (transient ischemic attack), which can happen before a major stroke. Never ignore sudden weakness or speech problems just because they get better.”
Dr Chawla warned that a stroke can affect the ability of an individual to swallow. If the patient cannot swallow properly, food or water can enter the lungs instead of the stomach.
“This is called 'aspiration' and can lead to pneumonia,” cautioned Dr Chawla. “It is safer to wait for a swallowing assessment at the hospital.”
Just because it is available over the counter does not mean that a person should pop an aspirin in case of a stroke. As Dr Chawla pointed out, “Not every stroke is caused by a blood clot. Some strokes happen because of bleeding in the brain.”
“The symptoms can look very similar, but the treatment is completely different. Giving aspirin before a CT scan can be dangerous if the patient has a bleeding stroke,” he added.
“A nearby clinic may not have the facilities needed for emergency stroke treatment. Every minute matters. So, take the patient directly to a hospital with emergency stroke care,” noted the neurologist.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.
Dr Rahul Chawla, MBBS, MD Medicine, DM Neurology, is a consultant neurologist at ISIC Hospital, Delhi, and the founder of HealthPil.com.
Debapriya Bhattacharya is a Content Producer at Hindustan Times. He started his career in 2022, working in newsrooms in beats like education, US news, trending stories, and entertainment. In his new role in the lifestyle desk, he seeks to deliver a balanced blend of research-driven reporting and creative storytelling from health and recipes to art and culture. Science, philosophy, food and pop culture are what pump his veins and help bring heart to his stories. Debapriya tries to see out subjects that will allow him and readers to explore new frontiers and improve the quality of life for all. The explorations can be both external and internal, as thoughts seek to be as chaotic as the greater universe. As a citizen of the world, Debapriya has been fascinated by the lives of people across the globe throughout time. His curiosity leads him to explore new linguistic and cultural landscapes to broaden his horizons and deepen his understanding of global narratives. Beyond the newsroom, Debapriya loves to participate in debate and theatre, spaces that he considers to be holy grounds for nuance and self-expression. A graduate from Ashutosh College, University of Calcutta, Debapriya completed his Master's degree from the same university in 2022. An ambiverted bibliophile, he loves his solitude as much as he adores stimulating conversations. And despite his reverence for tech, libraries continue to be his favourite place for research.Read More
