"I Don’t Sweat Around My Ankle": Sunwoo Yong-nyeo Describes Sequelae After Ischemic Stroke [Health Talk]

[Financial News] Actress Sunwoo Yong-nyeo revealed on her YouTube channel that she has experienced lingering symptoms around her ankle since suffering an ischemic stroke. Even after treatment, stroke can leave residual disabilities, including sensory disturbances, paralysis and walking difficulties, making rehabilitation and measures to prevent recurrence necessary.
On the 10th, a video of Sunwoo Yong-nyeo visiting a charcoal kiln sauna in Wonju, Gangwon Province, was uploaded to the YouTube channel 'Soonpoong Sunwoo Yong-nyeo.' In the car on the way there, Sunwoo Yong-nyeo said, "I feel so good when I go to places like a charcoal kiln sauna," adding, "I can already see the fire from here. I say, 'You were waiting for me.'"
After arriving at the charcoal kiln sauna, she personally described the condition that remained after her ischemic stroke. She said, "I don’t think I can stay here for more than an hour," and added, "The ischemic stroke affected the area around my ankle. That’s why I don’t sweat around my ankle." She continued, "The areas that don’t hurt don’t feel hot, but the uncomfortable areas feel hot and prickly."


An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked, reducing the blood supply to brain tissue. Asan Medical Center’s medical encyclopedia explains that an ischemic stroke damages part of the brain when a cerebral blood vessel is blocked. Depending on the location and extent of the damage, it can cause paralysis on one side of the body, sensory disturbances, speech impairment, visual field defects, dizziness and walking difficulties.
The National Health Information Portal of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) explains that stroke occurs when a blood vessel becomes blocked or ruptures. Even when symptoms appear to improve, the risk of recurrence remains, so active testing and treatment are necessary. The agency also stated that early rehabilitation can help reduce residual disabilities.
A lack of sweating can have various causes. Seoul National University Hospital’s medical information service explains that abnormalities in the autonomic nervous system can cause anhidrosis, orthostatic hypotension, impaired bowel function and pupil abnormalities. Studies have also reported sweating abnormalities after stroke, but whether reduced sweating around a particular person’s ankle is caused by an ischemic stroke must be determined through medical evaluation and testing.

People who have suffered a stroke should pay closer attention to their condition when using high-temperature environments. Charcoal kiln saunas and regular saunas raise body temperature and increase sweating. This can reduce body fluids and cause blood pressure to fluctuate, potentially leading to dizziness, exhaustion and palpitations.
Asan Medical Center’s health information service explains that people using saunas as part of stroke recurrence prevention should be careful to avoid excessive dehydration or exhaustion. Those with risk factors for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, including hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and heart disease, should avoid excessive exposure to high temperatures and should not stop taking their regular medications without medical advice.
The 'Nine Lifestyle Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases,' developed by the KDCA and medical societies, emphasizes quitting smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, regularly checking blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol, treating hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia, and learning the early warning signs of stroke and myocardial infarction.

For stroke, managing aftereffects as well as preventing recurrence and responding to emergencies is important. The National Health Information Portal of the KDCA lists one-sided paralysis, sudden speech impairment, visual field defects, dizziness and severe headaches as early signs of stroke. If these symptoms occur, people should seek medical attention immediately, even if the symptoms disappear.
The Asan Medical Center Stroke Center also explains that there is no first aid that can be performed at home when a stroke is suspected. People should call 119 and go to an emergency room as quickly as possible. Pricking the fingertips or giving a patient Woohwang Cheongsimwon, a traditional herbal medicine, can delay treatment, and may pose an aspiration risk for patients with swallowing difficulties.
If symptoms experienced in daily life—such as sensory disturbances, paralysis, walking difficulties, swallowing problems, fatigue or abnormal sweating—persist, their cause should be evaluated by a neurologist or a rehabilitation medicine specialist. If dizziness, exhaustion, chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness on one side or slurred speech occurs after using a high-temperature facility, seek medical attention immediately.
[email protected] Han Seung-gon Reporter