Cerebral infarction, commonly known as “stroke”, is a sudden cerebrovascular disease, which may be life-threatening in serious cases. The middle-aged and elderly people as the high incidence of cerebral infarction crowd, should be more vigilant.

Many people think that cerebral infarction occurs suddenly, but in fact, before the onset of the disease, the body often sends out some signals. Middle-aged and elderly people should be highly alert to the risk of cerebral infarction if the following five manifestations occur, do not take it lightly.

Elderly people who are easily targeted by cerebral infarction
Most of them have these five characteristics

1. Long-term high blood pressure
   High blood pressure can damage the inner wall of blood vessels, leading to arteriosclerosis, blocking blood flow and increasing the risk of thrombosis. If the blood pressure fluctuates greatly, it is easier to induce cerebral infarction.

2、Abnormalities in blood lipids and blood sugar
High blood fat will cause blood to become sticky, easy to form blood clots; diabetic patients have poorer blood vessel elasticity, also more likely to have blood vessel blockage.

3、Sedentary, lack of exercise
Prolonged inactivity will slow down blood circulation and increase blood viscosity, increasing the possibility of thrombosis. It is recommended that the elderly daily moderate activities, such as walking, tai chi and so on.
4, often stay up late, irregular work and rest
Long-term staying up late will lead to large fluctuations in blood pressure, affecting the health of blood vessels, but also make the blood become more viscous, increasing the risk of cerebral infarction.
5, love to eat high salt, high fat food
Excessive intake of high salt, high oil food will increase the burden on blood vessels, promote arteriosclerosis, so that the blood flow is not smooth, thus increasing the incidence of cerebral infarction.

These 5 kinds of performance before going to bed
Beware of cerebral infarction signals

1、Numbness and discomfort on one side of the body
If you suddenly feel numbness or weakness in one side of your hands, legs or face before going to bed, especially if this feeling comes quickly and without obvious reasons, it is likely to be an early sign of cerebral blood flow obstruction. The numbness may be accompanied by tingling or a sense of loss of control.

2. Sudden headache, dizziness or imbalance
   A sudden, severe headache, dizziness or feeling unsteady before bedtime may be a sign of obstruction of blood flow to the brain or insufficient blood supply. Headaches often feel different from ordinary tension headaches and may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting and other symptoms.
3. Frequent drooling
   A cerebral infarction may affect the nerves that control the muscles of the face and mouth, causing facial muscles to relax. Some people drool unconsciously before going to bed, especially when one side of the mouth is not closed tightly, this situation should not be ignored.
4. Slurred speech or difficulty in expression
   Cerebral infarction may affect the speech center and there may be slurred speech, repetition of words or difficulty in expressing complete meaning. If this performance persists or worsens, it should be checked as soon as possible.
5. Blurred vision or blindness
   Suddenly experiencing blurred vision in one eye, partial loss of visual field, or complete blindness before bedtime, especially if these symptoms are transient, may also be a precursor to a brain infarction. Vision problems are usually due to insufficient blood flow to the brain, affecting the optic nerve.

How to prevent cerebral infarction in middle-aged and elderly people

1. Control blood pressure, blood sugar and blood fat
   High blood pressure, diabetes and high blood lipids are the three major risk factors for cerebral infarction. Regularly check these indicators to control abnormalities in time.

For example, high blood pressure should take medication on time, diabetic patients should maintain stable blood sugar level, and people with high blood fat should control their diet, reduce greasy food, and take lipid-lowering drugs under the guidance of doctors when necessary.

2、Reasonable diet to ensure balanced nutrition
Reduce the intake of high salt and high fat food, eat more vegetables, fruits, whole grains and low fat protein food.

In particular, eat more food that is good for the heart and brain, such as deep-sea fish, nuts, beans, etc., to help improve blood circulation and reduce the formation of blood clots.

3. Exercise moderately to enhance physical strength
   Maintain about 30 minutes of light exercise every day, such as walking, swimming or playing Tai Chi. Exercise can promote blood circulation, enhance heart function and effectively prevent cerebral infarction. However, avoid strenuous exercise and overwork.
4. Quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption.
   Smoking and excessive drinking will accelerate the hardening of blood vessels and increase the risk of cerebral infarction. Middle-aged and elderly people should try to quit smoking and control the intake of alcohol.

5、Regular work and rest, maintain sufficient sleep
Adequate sleep helps stabilize blood pressure, blood sugar and blood lipids. Avoid staying up late and maintain 7-8 hours of sleep a day to help repair the body and reduce the risk of cerebral infarction.

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