The stroke It is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases in our country. Every year there are more than 120,000 cases of cerebral infarcts in Spain, which means that every six minutes one of these is diagnosed.
Although it is more common for these to occur in older people, almost 30% of those affected are under 65 years of age. This is the case of the DJ Kiko Rivera, son of the famous singer Isabel Pantoja, who at 38 years of age is hospitalized in a very serious condition after suffering a stroke.
Risk factors that can cause a stroke
These cerebrovascular disorders can be prevented up to 90% of the time. To do this, it is only necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle and always control the risk factors that can make a difference when it comes to causing or preventing it.
According to the American Stroke Association, there are certain habits that can increase the chances of suffering from this disease. It is the case of smokingthe diabetes (one of the illnesses suffered by Isabel Pantoja’s son), the physical inactivityCarry one unhealthy diet or have the cholesterol above normal levels.
In addition to this, people who suffer from other disorders such as high blood pressure or other arterial diseasesatrial fibrillation, heart disease or sickle cell anemia can also increase the risk of having a stroke.
What are the symptoms of a stroke
Knowing how to identify the symptoms of a stroke is key to being able to minimize the possible sequels of this disease and, in the most serious cases, to prevent the death of the patient. Kiko Rivera himself was the one who went to the emergency hospital after beginning to suffer Severe headachesone of the most revealing symptoms.
As explained by the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU), the stroke symptoms they are quite recognizable, especially the most significant ones. Recognizing them can help avoid a greater evil and among them are the following:
Weakness, numbness, or paralysis of a part of the body
Difficulty speaking or understanding
Sudden loss of vision, totally or partially
Dizziness, balance problems or lack of coordination of movements
Sudden, severe headache for no apparent reason
These symptoms can appear suddenly, although they can also disappear a short time later, leaving hardly any signs. In these cases, when there is a temporary blockage of the circulation, the experts prefer not to speak of a stroke, but of «transient ischemic attack (AIT)”, because it is so short that it does not cause the death of neurons. Still, it can be a warning sign of another possible serious circulatory event.