Doctors warn that strokes can be caused by exercise and sports activities.

Dr. Kieu Van Duong, Deputy Director of the Stroke Center at Nghe An Friendship General Hospital, offers the following recommendations regarding stroke prevention during exercise and sports competitions:

What is a stroke?

Stroke, also known as cerebrovascular accident, is a disease caused by localized damage to the central nervous system; it occurs due to spontaneous damage to the cerebral circulatory system (not due to trauma); it manifests as sudden neurological deficits that last for at least 24 hours or result in death before 24 hours.

PathologystrokeStroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide. If stroke patients survive, they will suffer severe and permanent neurological and motor impairments such as paralysis, weakness in part of the body, loss of speech, emotional disorders, and impaired vision... if not treated promptly and correctly.

What causes strokes during exercise and sports competitions?

There are many cases ofstrokeWhen exercising and competing in sports, each case has its own cause. For example, waking up to exercise early in the morning when it's cold, after a long sleep, the body is in a state of low blood sugar and high blood viscosity, making it very easy to have a stroke.

Furthermore, when individuals train or compete at high intensity, pushing their body beyond its limits, their heart rate and blood pressure fluctuate erratically. The body's organs work much faster than normal, which can lead to insufficient blood flow to the brain, resulting in a lack of oxygen and essential nutrients, easily leading to stroke.

For individuals who train or compete while suffering from multiple injuries (especially neck and facial injuries), it can easily lead to damage to the carotid artery and ultimately stroke.

Or, someone who has just finished training or competing might take a shower too soon. At this time, the heart is working hard, and pores are fully open to release heat. Showering too soon can cause vasoconstriction, leading to the onset of a stroke.

In addition, excessive exercise and sports activities can lead to dehydration and loss of essential minerals that the body cannot replenish in time, which is also a cause of stroke.

Who is at risk of stroke when exercising or playing sports?

Stroke can happen to anyone, at any age, not just the elderly. However, strokes are more common in groups with pre-existing risk factors, such as those with cerebral vascular malformations, underlying medical conditions (hypertension, diabetes, metabolic disorders, obesity, cardiovascular disease, etc.), smokers, and alcoholics. These groups are at the highest risk. The risk is even greater for elderly people in these groups.

The second group consists of athletes who overexert themselves, becoming overly enthusiastic and pushing their endurance beyond their capabilities. For example, these individuals might only be able to run 5 km, but after training, they increase that to 10 km, 20 km, and then attempt to run 30 km or even more…

Signs to look for to detect someone having a stroke.

Patients often find it difficult to know they have the disease because there are usually no symptoms; they only find out when a stroke occurs. Common signs of stroke include the sudden appearance of symptoms such as: severe headache, sudden dizziness, vision loss, facial paralysis, speech disorders, and paralysis of one side of the body... These symptoms are warning signs of a stroke.

Principles of handling a stroke in someone exercising or playing sports.

If you see someone suspected of having a stroke or who has actually had a stroke, immediately call emergency services and transport them safely to the nearest hospital. This is crucial to find an opportunity for treatment within the "golden hour" to "save the brain" if the patient exhibits any of the symptoms mentioned above.

Next, the suspected stroke victim should be laid still on a hard, flat surface. Pay attention to whether the suspected stroke victim has irregular breathing, increased mucus production, or vomiting. If so, help the suspected stroke victim into a safe side-lying position, remove mucus as soon as possible, and support breathing to ensure a clear airway.

To avoid worsening the patient's condition and wasting crucial time for treatment, absolutely do not perform any actions that hinder emergency care, such as acupressure, massage, or finger pricking. These actions are unnecessary and have no value in the emergency care of stroke patients. In particular, do not give the victim food, drink, or any medication while waiting for emergency care.

Treatment options for stroke caused by exercise and sports.

Treatment aims to reduce mortality rates and minimize the risk of severe complications. Generally, the principles of stroke treatment are emergency, accurate, and rapid treatment, limiting the spread of damage, optimizing neurological status, ensuring cerebral blood flow, preventing complications, helping patients recover function, and minimizing the risk of recurrent stroke.

Depending on the cause of the stroke, the type of stroke, the severity of the stroke, the patient's overall health, and the time elapsed since the onset of symptoms, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment method. Some stroke treatments that may be applied include: intravenous thrombolytic therapy, endovascular intervention, surgery (removal of blood clots, stopping bleeding, carotid artery dissection, resection of arteriovenous malformations, etc.), and endovascular embolization.

Preventing stroke while playing sports or exercising.

Individuals with underlying health conditions must always adhere to their doctor's prescribed treatment, never skipping doses or self-medicating. They should also consult their doctor before engaging in regular exercise or participating in any sport. Furthermore, regular check-ups and comprehensive screenings at hospitals with stroke specialists are necessary to rule out potential risks.

Anyone can exercise and play sports, but everyone's physical condition is different. Therefore, it's necessary to base the amount of exercise on one's health condition, combined with a proper diet. Excessive exercise, exceeding one's limits, can lead to stroke. Furthermore, when training or competing in sports, it's important to choose the right time to exercise (avoid exercising too early in the morning); and to perform a thorough and correct warm-up.

Avoid showering immediately after exercising or competing in sports; you need to rest for about 20-30 minutes before showering. Do not use water that is too cold or too hot for showering (as both negatively affect blood vessels).