October 29: prevention can stop stroke

Fraternidad-Muprespa and the Stroke Brake Association signed a collaboration agreement in 2018 to promote awareness-raising activities about this disease, whose world day is celebrated every year on October 29.

In this way, the Mutual Fund undertook to inform about the importance of rapid detection, action in the event of a stroke, and the correct way to prevent it, reducing its consequences.

Four years later, the agreement is still in force and so is the reality it seeks to alleviate. For this reason, Fraternidad-Muprespa continues to give voice to the constant work by Ictus Brake aimed at avoiding this disease, among other actions, through the dissemination of two videos:

In Spain, stroke has great social impact. About 120,000 people are affected by the disease each year, making it the leading cause of death in women and the second overall. It is estimated that one in six people will have a stroke during their lifetime, and that one in two people who suffer from it will not recover.

Stroke is the world's leading cause of acquired disability in adults. By 2035, stroke cases will have increased by 35% in our environment. The good news is that stroke is a highly preventable disease, in up to 90% of cases.

The guidelines for this include eating a healthy diet, doing physical exercise and avoiding a sedentary lifestyle, avoiding drugs and tobacco, reducing alcohol consumption to a minimum, having regular medical check-ups, keeping your mind active and trying to face life's circumstances calmly and peacefully.

From Freno al Ictus they also carry out educational work so that society knows how to identify the symptoms of this disease. They are always abrupt and sudden and we have to ask the affected person or those around them to do certain things to provide all possible information to the medical team. For example, if the affected person has facial sagging, we should ask them to smile, and if they have suffered loss of strength, to raise their arms. If you have problems speaking or understanding, we will ask you a simple question.

Other symptoms may include blurred or double vision, balance or stability problems, or a sudden, intense headache. With just one of these symptoms you have to act and call 112 to activate the stroke protocol.