Three months ago, a Professor who was very close to me had a stroke. It was left sided. I was devastated. He was admitted into a hospital. He is still on admission, as I write, battling for his dear life.
What was very sorrowful, was that in the past, each time I requested to check his blood pressure (BP), he would dismiss me with a wave of his hand, saying rhetorically “I have never had a BP all my life, and I am more than 70. How are the mighty fallen. Do not get me wrong. He is not dead yet, he is a very proud man. So for a very proud man to be reduced to such a pathetic and vegetative state, where he has to depend on others for simple ablution, then he is psychologically dead.
I have been agonising with myself these past 3 months, why I did not put my foot down and insisted I must check his BP. .The day he had the stroke his BP was 230/120. When he came to, because he was unconscious when he was rushed to the hospital, he told the doctors he checked his BP last about a year ago.
Let me issue a strong warning without reservations. If you are above 40, and you are not a diagnosed hypertensive. Please, in the name of God, go now to the nearest Primary Health Centre, pharmacy or chemist and check your BP. Show it to the nearest health personnel for interpretation. If it is normal, please do not stay more than 6 months without checking it again. Or what befell my Professor friend would come knocking on your doorstep.
How can we be so callous with ourselves, like Malvolio in Twelfth Night by Shakespeare and be sick of self love. But if we hear a little noise in our vehicles we do a quick dash to an auto mechanic to solve the problem. You are regularly rebuilding, refurbishing and remodeling your houses, but the temple of God which is your body is ignored.
I have been having a running battle with all my patients above 50,on the need to regularly check their blood pressures. And it is a herculean battle, since most of them claim they are not hypertensive and have no need for regular BPH check.
I have discussed stroke ad infinitum since 2003,when Dr Sun was born. A stroke which is also called Cerebro-Vascular-Accident (CVA), is the death of brain tissue, ie cerebral infarction resulting from lack of blood flow and insufficient oxygen in the brain. A stroke results from failure of the blood supply to a part of the brain. This may be due to a thrombosis, or embolism or a haemorrhage in the brain from a ruptured blood vessel. Infarction (death) of part of the brain may occur.
A stroke is more common in men than women. It can vary in severity from a minor disturbance,forgotten in a few minutes, to a major attack,causing unconsciousness almost immediately. Death may then follow in a matter of hours, alternatively consciousness is regained, but there is usually lasting damage. An attack may also show itself in sudden paralysis of one side or part of the body, without loss of consciousness. Or again it may develop over several hours, with persistent throbbing headache, vomiting, dizziness, and numbness of the limbs.
Before, I go further, let me give us, a graphic mental picture of what to look for in case you suspect that you, or any of your relatives, have a stroke. We have to note that medically, the left brain controls the right side of the body, and the right brain controls the left side.
The left brain controls;
Movement of the right side of the body.
Critical thinking
Logic and reasoning
Language
Science & maths
Writing
Numbers & skill.
The right brain controls;
Movement on the left side of the body.
Art awareness
Imagination
Intuition
Insight
Holistic thought.
Music awareness
Spatial recognition.
When a left brain stroke occurs the following happen;
Possible paralysis on the right side of the body.
Speech /language problem
Slow cautious behaviour
Impairment of organisational abilities
Facial weakness or problem with swallowing
Memory loss.
When a right brain stroke occurs the following happen:
Possible paralysis on the left side of the body.
Vision problems
Quick overly curious behaviour
Poor decision making
Facial problems or problem smiling
Memory loss.
For changes to occur after a stroke, the rehabilitation process must start, right away, regardless of which side of the brain the stroke occurred. Although the effects of stroke can be severe, the brain has an incredible resilience to recover.
Recovery depends on age, general health and the site and size of the damage. Even if recovery is possible it may take years; butin other cases, control of the body has suffered permanent damage; wit muscle paralysed or very weak. The effects occur in the opposite side to the side of the brain affected – because as stated earlier, one side of the body is controlled by the opposite side of the brain
And stroke in the side of the brain that of the brain that is dominant (see above), may be impaired, but judgement and basic personality need not be altered.
Treatment consists mainly of rest and prolonged convalescence with careful nursing, physiotherapy and if needed, speech therapy. Drugs are sometimes used to lower the blood pressure, if it is high, and so help prevent further damage.
Intensive rehabilitation can help many people learn to overcome disability despite the impairment of some brain tissue. Other parts of the brain can assume tasks previously performed by damaged part.
Rehabilitation is started as soon as blood pressure, pulse, and breathing have stabilised. Doctors, Physiotherapists, and Nurses combine their expertise to keep the patients muscles strong, prevent muscular contractions and pressure sores – which can result from being in one position for too long, and teach the patient to walk and talk again. Patience and perseverance are crucial.
After discharge from hospital, many people benefit from continued rehabilitation in a hospital or nursing home, in scheduled visits to a rehabilitation centre or at home.
Occupational and physical therapists can suggest ways to make life easier and the home safer for a person with stroke and disability.
Final warning – please I plead with you in the name of Almighty God – if you are above 50 do not neglect your blood pressure to the extent of developing a stroke and a question for rehabilitation. Do not assume like my Professor friend that since you are not a known hypertensive you do not need to regularly check your blood pressure. Always be medically guided.
• Please follow me on Twitter @_DRSUN