Stroke used to be the number one cause of death in Japan, but since the 1970s, the number of deaths has gradually decreased.

According to the Vital Statistics of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in 2015, the leading cause of death was malignant neoplasm, the second was heart disease, the third was pneumonia, and the fourth was stroke.

However, the ratio of stroke to all deaths is still high at about 9%, and more than 110,000 people die annually due to stroke.

More than 60,000 of these deaths are due to cerebral infarction.

It can be said that the development of preventive medicine as well as the development of treatment are behind the decrease in the number of deaths.

In other words, it can be said that stroke is also a disease that can be prevented by preventive actions before onset.

In order to prevent stroke, it is important to first know about stroke.

In this article, we will discuss in detail about the three major diseases of stroke.

We hope that this information will be useful as a reference for preventive actions against stroke.

Three major diseases of stroke

cerebral hemorrhage

Cerebral hemorrhage is a pathological condition in which an intracerebral artery ruptures due to various causes such as hypertension, resulting in bleeding within the cerebral parenchyma.

The main causes include hypertension, ruptured saccular aneurysm, rupture of cerebral arteriovenous malformation, moyamoya disease, and dural arteriovenous fistula.

High blood pressure is important from a preventive point of view.

Controlling blood pressure in daily life is one of the important points for preventing cerebral hemorrhage.

Symptoms vary depending on the bleeding site, but the main symptoms include numbness and paralysis of the hands and feet, sensory disturbance and involuntary movement, severe headache, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, and epileptic seizures.

Any of these symptoms is a sign that something is wrong with your brain.

It is recommended that you see a doctor even if you have minor discomfort.

cerebral infarction

Cerebral infarction is a pathological condition in which a cerebral artery is occluded and ischemia occurs in the perfusion area (where fluid flows to organs, tissues, and cells), resulting in tissue necrosis.

Classification includes atherothrombotic cerebral infarction, cardiogenic cerebral embolism, and lacunar infarction.

Symptoms vary depending on the type of infarction, but mainly include paralysis, numbness, aphasia, disturbance of consciousness, movement disorder, and sensory disturbance.

If you have serious symptoms such as consciousness disorder, you need to see a doctor immediately.

Also, even if the symptoms are mild, the symptoms may worsen over time or lead to sequelae, which may have an impact later.

Therefore, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible if you have these symptoms.

subarachnoid hemorrhage

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a condition in which bleeding into the subarachnoid space occurs mainly due to breakage of bleeding in the subarachnoid space.

About 10% of strokes. It is said that there are about 20 patients per 100,000 population in Japan.

Rupture of cerebral aneurysm, which is the most common cause of onset, is a disease with a high rate of death and severe sequelae.

The main symptom is a sudden, severe headache (the worst pain of your life, like being hit with a bat or hammer).

It is important that the symptoms are sudden, even if they are mild.

In addition, there are nausea, vomiting, disturbance of consciousness, and convulsions.

A delay in diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage can lead to a worse outcome, so prompt action is required.

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention as this is a time-sensitive situation.

Points for stroke prevention

①Regular life

Cerebral hemorrhage is also called a lifestyle-related disease.

Leading a regular life will be a big shortcut to prevention.

A healthy lifestyle can help control blood pressure and cholesterol.

In our busy lives, we tend to neglect things like eating, sleeping, and resting.

I encourage you to take another look at your daily life.

Even if it is difficult to do many things at once, just being conscious of one of them in your daily life will lead to prevention.

② Moderate exercise

Moderate exercise is also important for stroke prevention. 

Regular exercise helps control blood pressure and cholesterol.

 However, if you have never exercised before, it is dangerous to suddenly do hard exercise. 

If you already have high blood pressure, exercising can be dangerous. Therefore, it is recommended that you do moderate exercises that are suitable for each individual. Try to do exercise that you can continue for a little while every day, such as a light walk or stretching.

③ If you feel anything unusual, see a doctor immediately.

Early detection and early treatment is the principle of stroke.

If you feel anything unusual, don't hesitate to see a doctor.

For that reason, it is important to know the symptoms of stroke and be aware of any abnormalities.

Stroke is a disease with good treatment results and a high possibility of complete recovery without sequelae if it can be detected early.

Conversely, if treatment is delayed, aftereffects will remain and you will be forced to live a hard life.

We often hear people say, "I wish I had gone to the hospital at that time."

Make sure to seek medical attention early to avoid regrets.

Summary: Stroke prevention is key

Although the death rate of stroke is decreasing due to advances in treatment and prevention, there are still many people who die from stroke and suffer from aftereffects.

“I wish I had seen a doctor sooner.”

"I wish I had paid more attention to my health."

Such regrets cannot turn back time.

Stroke is a disease whose incidence can be reduced through prevention, although there are some situations where it cannot be prevented.

It is important to take care of one's own body and lead a life conscious of stroke prevention from a healthy age.

Stroke, which can lead to sudden death, does not have many warning signs, so we recommend that you see a doctor early in order to learn more about your physical condition.

Omotesando Helene Clinic specializes in regenerative medicine that does not place a burden on the body, and provides pre-counseling for those who cannot immediately start treatment.

Stroke is also related to lifestyle habits such as obesity, excessive drinking, and smoking, but it is generally said that it is difficult to improve lifestyle habits.

Therefore, if you use "regenerative medicine" that utilizes autologous stem cells, you can use your own cells to repair weakened cells in the body and prevent and improve various diseases and complications.

"I'm curious, but I can't decide if prevention is really necessary now." You may be at risk of wandering life and death without realizing it, so Please feel free to contact us.

・ Inquiry form (email correspondence): https://okusurinabi.com/contact/

[Regenerative Medicine Outpatient] 03-3400-2277

[References]

Yutaka Okaniwa (2020) "Year Note 2021 Internal Medicine/Surgery" Medic Media

"Recommendation for Stroke Prevention" (2017) Project Executive Committee for Prevention of Stroke Caused by Atrial Fibrillation

　http://www.jsa-web.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/TASK-AF_tool_03_2021.pdf

"Ten Articles for Stroke Prevention" (2018) Japan Stroke Association

http://www.jsa-web.org/citizen/85.html

Supervision: Dr. Yasushi Tsuda