It is believed that many people have often heard the terms ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. Both conditions can cause acute patients to become disabled or develop hemiplegia or paralysis if not treated promptly.
What is the difference between “ischemic” and “hemorrhagic” stroke?
Ischemic stroke or occlusion is a condition where the blood vessel walls degenerate. The arteries harden, and fat accumulates on the inner walls of the blood vessels, causing the walls to thicken. This gradually narrows the space inside the blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the brain until one day, when the narrowing becomes severe, the blood supply is insufficient to nourish the brain.
On the other hand, hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures, causing bleeding in the brain. There are two types: bleeding within the brain tissue, which affects the nervous system because the blood compresses the brain tissue, causing abnormal brain function; and bleeding in the meninges caused by a cerebral aneurysm, where patients experience severe headaches.
Brain ischemia: cause of sudden hemiplegia and paralysis
Every second the brain lacks blood, whether due to blockage, narrowing, or rupture, the brain cells controlling movement are increasingly damaged. The brain that once controlled the limbs can no longer do so, resulting in weakness. Some patients experience weakness on one side, some on the entire body, and the condition worsens. In cases of hemorrhagic stroke, blood accumulates in the brain, and if not treated in time, the patient may eventually fall into a coma.
Symptoms to watch for sudden hemiplegia and paralysis from stroke
According to statistics on stroke incidence in Thai people, there are about 500-1,000 new cases daily, with a relatively high mortality rate of 5-10%. Avoiding severe symptoms requires receiving treatment as quickly as possible, or at least within 270 minutes (over 4 and a half hours), to reduce the chance of permanent hemiplegia or paralysis and significantly lower the death rate.
To monitor sudden hemiplegia and paralysis from stroke, observe the following possible symptoms:
- Sudden weakness or numbness in one side of the body
- Numbness in the face, hands, or feet
- Inability to lift the arm, clench the fist, or hold objects, causing them to drop
- Weakness in walking, unsteady gait, inability to lift the foot or leg
- Drooping corner of the mouth, crooked mouth
- Difficulty speaking, slurred speech, inability to find words, incorrect speech, or inability to speak at all
- Double vision or abnormal vision
- Sudden severe headache accompanied by vomiting and dizziness like vertigo
If any of these symptoms occur suddenly, immediately call an emergency ambulance or have someone nearby take the patient to the hospital for prompt examination and treatment. Delaying treatment may lead to loss of consciousness and rapid progression to hemiplegia and paralysis.
Mobile CT & Stroke Treatment Unit helps patients
Every 1 minute the brain lacks blood, 1.9 million brain cells die, which slows brain function. Without rapid treatment, the brain eventually stops working. Arriving at the hospital later than 270 minutes may cause the patient to develop complete hemiplegia or paralysis or death.
Phyathai Nawamin Hospital recognizes the challenges patients face in traveling due to symptoms, distance, and traffic congestion. Therefore, it has equipped a Mobile CT & Stroke Treatment Unit with essential medical tools and innovations for diagnosing and treating stroke patients. This mobile acute stroke treatment unit is an ambulance service designed to provide rapid assistance with comprehensive medical equipment and neurological specialists.
When the unit arrives at the patient’s location, examination and diagnosis begin immediately without waiting for the patient to reach the hospital. Rapid treatment helps reduce brain damage, lowers the risk of permanent hemiplegia or paralysis leading to disability, or death if untreated promptly. It also increases the chances of full recovery.
Therefore, anyone concerned or with elderly family members at risk of stroke should be prepared to call the Mobile Acute Stroke Treatment Ambulance at Tel. 1772 press 7 to access the fastest treatment service.
