World Stroke Day highlights need for early detection and prevention measures

On World Stroke Day, health professionals are emphasizing the importance of early recognition and treatment of cerebrovascular events. Early medical attention can save lives and limit long-term effects on mobility, memory, and speech.

Dr. Alejandro Díaz, a neurologist at the Outpatient Clinic for Diseases, explained that a stroke occurs when there is a disruption in blood flow to the brain. He noted that strokes can take several forms: “It can be, for example, an ischemic infarction (when a clot blocks a blood vessel in the brain), intraparenchymal hemorrhage (bleeding within brain tissue), subarachnoid hemorrhage (bleeding between the brain and surrounding tissues), and venous thrombosis (formation of a clot in a deep vein).”

Dr. Díaz listed major risk factors including high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, cardiac arrhythmias, overweight status, smoking, physical inactivity, malformations in cerebral vessels, aneurysms, coagulation disorders, and advanced age. While stress is rarely a direct cause of stroke, it may contribute if underlying arterial disease exists by causing sudden increases in blood pressure.

Prevention is possible to some extent by managing these risk factors promptly. Dr. Díaz stated: “Maintain a healthy lifestyle, eat well, exercise regularly, have good sleep habits, avoid smoking and alcoholism.”

Recognizing symptoms quickly is critical for improving recovery outcomes and reducing complications. Warning signs include difficulty speaking clearly or articulating words, weakness on one side of the body’s limbs, or loss of balance or coordination.

“If you experience or see someone experiencing difficulty speaking or moving limbs on one side of the body they should be taken immediately to a tertiary care hospital,” said Dr. Díaz.

The Instituto Guatemalteco de Seguridad Social (IGSS) provides comprehensive care for stroke patients through its Hospital General de Enfermedades located in zone 9.

Dr. Díaz also clarified terminology commonly used by the public: although terms like “cerebral hemorrhage” or “stroke” are widely known locally as “derrame cerebral” or “accidente cerebrovascular,” he emphasized that the correct term is "cerebrovascular event."