BOGOR - Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke in the world. This condition accounts for about 87 percent of all stroke cases and occurs due to blockage of blood flow to the brain due to plaque buildup (atherosclerosis) and blood clots in the blood vessels.
Vascular Surgery Specialist at Eka Hospital Depok, dr. Tom Christy Adriani, said ischemic stroke can be prevented if the risk factors are recognized early and the patient receives the right treatment.
For patients with high risk or who have had a mild stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), vascular intervention can be one of the options to help prevent a repeat stroke.
"Vascular intervention is a minimally invasive action without open surgery that aims to reopen narrowed or blocked blood vessels so that blood flow to the brain returns smoothly and the risk of stroke can be suppressed," said Dr. Tom in his statement in Bogor City, Thursday, July 9.
According to him, there are two common vascular intervention procedures. The first is Carotid Angioplasty and Stenting (CAS), which is an action to widen the carotid artery that is narrowed using a special balloon, then a stent is installed so that the blood vessels remain open.
The second procedure is mechanical thrombectomy, an emergency measure to remove blood clots that block large blood vessels in the brain in patients with acute ischemic stroke. This action gives the best results when performed during optimal treatment or the golden period, so that it can increase the chances of recovery and reduce the risk of permanent disability.
Dr. Tom explained, compared to open surgery, vascular intervention has a number of advantages, including not requiring large incisions, lower bleeding risk, minimal damage to surrounding tissue, and relatively faster recovery time.
He reminded that not everyone has the same risk of having a stroke. High-risk groups include people with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, heart disease, heart rhythm disorders (atrial fibrillation), active smokers, obese people, and those with a history of stroke or TIA. The risk also increases in the elderly, although strokes are increasingly found at productive age due to unhealthy lifestyles.
According to Dr. Tom, stroke prevention should start at a young age. This is important because the process of narrowing blood vessels due to plaque buildup can last for years without causing symptoms.
"Applying a healthy lifestyle from a young age is the best investment to prevent stroke later. Start by eating a balanced nutritious diet, increasing fruits and vegetables, limiting foods high in salt, sugar, and saturated fat, exercising regularly for at least 150 minutes per week, maintaining an ideal body weight, not smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, managing stress well, and getting enough sleep," he explained.
He also appealed to the public to undergo regular health checks, especially blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and cholesterol. Regular check-ups are considered important because hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol often do not cause complaints, but become the main risk factor for stroke.
In addition, a person who has a narrowing of the carotid artery of more than 60-70 percent or begins to feel symptoms of impaired blood flow to the brain, such as weakness on one side of the body, sudden speech, face swelling, vision problems, or severe dizziness, is advised to undergo a check-up immediately so that they can get treatment as early as possible.
Answering questions that often arise in the community, dr. Tom said that stroke does not always cause permanent disability. The patient's chances of recovery depend heavily on the speed of getting help, the location and extent of brain damage, and compliance with rehabilitation.
"Stroke can recover very well, even some patients can return to normal activities if they get treatment during the golden period, accompanied by optimal rehabilitation and control of risk factors. The sooner the patient is treated, the greater the chance of recovery," he said.
Therefore, he emphasized the importance of recognizing the symptoms of stroke with the FAST method (Face or face drooping, Arm or arm weakness, Speech or speech slurred, and Time or seek medical help immediately). Quick treatment can save brain tissue and increase the chance of recovery.
Eka Hospital Depok provides comprehensive stroke screening services, brain vessel evaluation using Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA), as well as vascular intervention services for patients who need treatment and prevention of ischemic stroke.
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