Stroke
Brain attack, CVA
What it is
Blood stops reaching part of the brain, or a blood vessel in the brain bursts. That part of the brain is damaged within minutes. High blood pressure is the biggest cause.
Common signs
- Face drops on one side
- Arm or leg weak or numb on one side
- Speech is slurred or confused
- Sudden trouble seeing or walking
- Sudden very bad headache
How it is diagnosed
A health worker checks your face, arms, speech and blood pressure. A brain scan (CT or MRI) shows if it is a clot or a bleed. This changes the treatment, so go to hospital fast.
Tests
- Blood pressure reading — high blood pressure is the most common cause
- CT or MRI brain scan — shows a clot or a bleed
- Blood sugar test — low or high sugar can look like a stroke
- ECG (heart tracing) — looks for an uneven heartbeat that causes clots
- Cholesterol blood test — checks blood fats
How food affects it
Food cannot repair the brain after a stroke. But eating less salt and more vegetables lowers blood pressure and the chance of another stroke. Keep taking your medicines. If swallowing is hard, ask a health worker how to make food soft and safe.
Food as medicine, alongside your medicine. Food works alongside your medicines, not instead of them. Never stop or change your tablets without talking to your health worker.
Eat often
- Leafy greens (ugu, kontomire, sukuma wiki, cassava leaves) — rich in potassium
- Beans, cowpeas, lentils and moi moi
- Fresh fruit: banana, pawpaw, orange, guava
- Fresh fish like tilapia, mackerel and sardines, boiled or grilled
- Whole grains: millet, sorghum, brown or ofada rice
Eat in moderation
- Palm oil — use a little
- Red meat — small pieces, a few times a week
- Eggs — a few a week
- Fufu, gari and white rice — small portions
Avoid or cut down
- Stock cubes, seasoning powder and added salt
- Smoked, salted or dried fish unless soaked first
- Fried snacks like puff-puff, chin chin and mandazi
- Alcohol and tobacco
- Sugary drinks like soda and malt
Get help urgently
Call for help and go to hospital at once if the face drops, an arm is weak, or speech is strange. Every minute counts — treatment works best within a few hours.
General information, not a diagnosis. Always follow the advice of your health worker.