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Understanding the importance of the golden hour and acting quickly can save countless lives and improve the quality of life for stroke patients.
Stroke in young people affects people of all races and ethnicities, with an incidence rate of 40 per 100,000 in Asia
Stroke is a sudden blockage of blood flow to the brain and can have devastating consequences. However, there is a critical period of time, the so-called “golden hour,” that can have a major impact on the outcome of a stroke. The golden hour refers to the first hour after a stroke. During this critical period, prompt medical care dramatically improves a stroke patient’s chances of survival and recovery. Dr Preetha, MD General Medicine, DM Neurology, Prashanth Hospitals, Chennai shares the importance of the golden hour:
Importance of the Golden Time Period:
- When a stroke occurs, brain cells begin to die rapidly due to lack of oxygen. Time is of the essence. Every minute counts. The sooner treatment begins, the more brain tissue can be saved.
- Some drugs, such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), are most effective when given within a specific time window.
Immediate actions
The swift response to how we respond to stroke is very crucial. If we sense early signs and symptoms of stroke which could be due to various reasons or factors like high blood pressure, age, Diabetes or epilepsy etc. then we need to immediately ensure we rush to expert care.
• Dial the emergency number immediately.
• Reassure the person and keep them calm.
• Do not give medications to a stroke victim unless directed to do so by a medical professional.
• Monitor the person’s breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure if possible.
Prevention Method
While rapid response is important if a stroke occurs, prevention plays a key role in reducing the risk.
Eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
Manage high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
If stroke runs in your family, talk to your doctor about preventive measures.
All studies have shown that better outcomes are achieved when medical and procedural interventions are performed within 6 hours of the onset of symptoms in stroke patients. Therefore, better results were always achieved when specialist interventions in the form of medications and treatments (to remove blood clots and prevent brain damage) were performed quickly and within a safe period.
Stroke in young people affects people of all races and ethnicities, with an incidence rate of 40 per 100,000 in Asia. This increase is associated with factors such as increased smoking rates, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, vitamin B12 deficiency, physical inactivity, episodic heavy alcohol intake, and air pollution. These risk factors also contribute to stroke in older people. Patients with migraines, oral contraceptive use, and those with predisposing conditions such as patent foramen ovale, cancer, antiphospholipid antibodies, and hereditary thrombocytosis are at increased risk of stroke.
Understanding the importance of the golden hour and acting quickly can save countless lives and improve the quality of life for stroke patients.
