World Stroke Day: Role of Pathology in Stroke Prevention

Introduction

A stroke is a medical emergency. In such an emergency, the blood supply to the brain severely reduces or is blocked completely. In turn, brain cells die due to the lack of oxygen, and without medical attention, the consequence of death is also present due to the stroke. World Stroke Day is celebrated on October 29th of each year to raise awareness about stroke prevention. On World Stroke Day, it is important to understand what are the symptoms of a stroke and how it can be prevented. In this article, learn everything about strokes, from stroke prevention to the role of pathology lab tests in early diagnosis.

Symptoms of Stroke

A stroke has several recognisable symptoms. Some of these evident symptoms include the following –

• A sudden loss of balance and movement.
• One or both sides of the face begin to droop.
• Sudden changes in one or both eyes.
• Speech becomes slurry.

When spotting any of these symptoms, it is important to act FAST (Face, Arm, Speech and Time). These are the aspects of the person’s symptoms which must be judged and an ambulance service should be contacted right away. A detailed post on recognising these symptoms, taking relevant action and calling an emergency ambulance for stroke in India is detailed here.

How is Stroke Diagnosed?

The diagnosis of a stroke involves assessment of whether there is damage to the brain. This is made possible through a combination of medical history, physical and neurological exams, and imaging tests like a CT scan or MRI. These can quickly reflect if there is bleeding or damage to the brain. Some of these methods are highlighted below –

• Physical Exam: The healthcare provider will ask about the symptoms, medical history and check for physical symptoms, such as dizziness, numbness, speech issues, etc.

• CT scan:  This is usually the first test performed. In this scan, X-rays are used to create detailed images of the brain and can quickly show if there is bleeding or if brain cells have been damaged.

• Electrocardiogram (EKG): This records the electrical activity of the heart and can help find heart rhythm problems that might have caused a stroke.

• Blood tests: These can be used to check for clotting disorders or other issues that may have increased the risk of stroke.

Role of Blood Tests in Stroke Prevention

Blood tests are important in stroke prevention as they help in the identification of potential risk factors that can cause a stroke. Some of the common risk factors for stroke, which are identifiable with the help of blood tests, are the following –

• Hypertension: This is high blood pressure, which can damage the lining of blood vessels, leading to atherosclerosis and increasing the risk for both ischemic, and hemorrhagic (bleeding) strokes. Thorough blood tests can help in understanding how this damage occurs and help in developing treatment options for low blood pressure.
• Diabetes: This condition doubles the risk of ischemic stroke and exacerbates endothelial dysfunction, systemic inflammation, and the thickening of capillary walls.
•  High Cholesterol: High levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides contribute to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, which can rupture and cause a blockage in a cerebral artery.
• Atrial Fibrillation: This irregular heartbeat can cause blood to pool in the heart's upper chambers, forming clots that can travel to the brain.
• Lifestyle Factors: Pathology tests can highlight how smoking, physical inactivity, poor diet, and alcohol or drug abuse directly contribute to vascular damage and inflammation.

Some blood tests that can help in the identification of the above-mentioned risk factors are –

• Complete Blood Count (CBC): Checks for anemia, infection, and abnormalities in red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. For example, too many red blood cells or too few platelets can increase stroke risk.
• Coagulation Tests: Measures how quickly your blood clots, which is crucial for determining if a stroke was caused by a clot (ischemic) or bleeding (hemorrhagic).
• Blood Glucose Test: Measures blood sugar levels. High levels can indicate diabetes, an important risk factor in stroke cases.
• Cholesterol Test: Determines if high levels of bad LDL cholesterol are present, which can lead to artery blockages.
• Kidney Function Tests: These evaluate how well the kidneys are filtering blood. Poor kidney function is linked to high blood pressure, a major stroke risk factor.

Blood Tests and Heart Packages with MedCab

MedCab offers the top pathology services in Lucknow and other cities. MedCab offers a range of packages related to stroke testing, such as heart health packages and diabetes packages. With MedCab’s pathology services, home sample collection can be scheduled anytime, anywhere. Whether you reside in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow or Aishbagh, Lucknow, MedCab is the go-to home sample collection service. MedCab’s pathology services aim at safe collection, and testing occurs at hygienic diagnostic centres. Tests such as a thorough lipid profile check-up, CBC, and diabetes can be taken as part of a discounted package deal with MedCab’s pathology services. Some of these discounted package deals are mentioned below –

• MedCab Healthy Heart – Basic:  includes a variety of tests such as Glucose Fasting (BSF), CBC Profile, ESR, HbA1C (Glycosylated Haemoglobin), High Sensitivity CRP, KFT (Max), Lipid Profile, LFT (Max), Urine Profile test and covers 73 parameters.

• MedCab Cardiac Basic Package: includes a variety of tests such as Complete Blood Counts (CBC), Lipid Profile, Creatine Kinase (CK), Glucose (Fasting), HsCRP, Glycosylated Hemoglobin (HbA1C), Urine Profile test and covers 52 parameters

• MedCab Cardioplus – Comprehensive:  includes 19 important tests such as Apolipoprotein A1 , B, CBC, ESR, BSF, HbA1C, CRP, KFT, Lipid Profile, Homocysteine, LFT, Thyroid test, Vitamin tests, APTT, PT/INR.

• MedCab Diabetes Test (Basic) - includes Blood Glucose Level Fasting & Post Prandial, HbA1c test and urine profile test that covers 22 parameters.

• MedCab Diabetes Comprehensive Package - includes 10 tests such as CBC, HbA1c, KFT, Lipid, CUE, C- Peptide, Vitamin B12 & D, LFT, etc that cover 74 parameters.

• MedCab Screening Test 1 - includes 8 health screening tests such as CBC, Blood Glucose, KFT, Lipid, LFT, Thyroid Profile (T3, T4, TSH), Calcium, and Complete urine examination with 63 parameters.

Conclusion

In conclusion, World Stroke Day raises important awareness on stroke prevention and management. World Stroke Day is important for understanding the symptoms of a stroke and what one should do in case they witness a stroke in a loved one. Calling an emergency ambulance service is important in case a stroke is noticed in a person around you. Additionally, various blood tests can be taken to understand one’s heart health and other parameters, and assess if one is at risk of a stroke. MedCab offers emergency ambulance services with advanced life support in cases of stroke occurrence, and also offers pathology services with convenient home sample collection for the management of stroke. Contact MedCab today to learn more.

Learn More: https://medcab.in/blog-detail/medcabs-pathology-services-home-sample-collection-made-easy

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