Call 911 immediately if you experience stroke symptoms.
Causes of Stroke
Did you know that stroke is a leading cause of death in the United States? Approximately 40% of people can't identify a single symptom of stroke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The longer a stroke progresses, the more brain tissue is destroyed. Simply put, time lost is brain lost. Fast treatment can reduce damage to the brain and help avoid disabilities.
How to Prevent a Stroke
There are steps you can take to prevent stroke:
- Exercise
- Manage high blood pressure
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Quit smoking
- Eat foods low in sodium and added sugar
Warning Signs of a Stroke: BE FAST
Stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of disability. Know these warning signs of stroke and teach them to others. Every second counts even if the symptoms subside.
BALANCE: Problems With Balance or Walking
- Watch the person for loss of balance or problems walking.
EYES: Are There Vision Changes?
- Ask the person if they're experiencing double vision?
- Ask the person if they've lost their vision on one side.
FACE: Does One Side Droop?
- Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the mouth hang lower than the other?
- Can the person feel you touch their face? Lightly touch them on both sides and ask them if the feeling is the same.
ARMS: Does One Arm Drift Downward?
- Ask the person to raise both their arms up together. Does one arm begin to fall down?
- Ask the person to squeeze your fingers with each hand. Is one hand weaker than the other?
- If you ask the person to try to hold something like a pen, can they do it without any difficulty?
- Can the person feel you touch them on their arm? Lightly touch them on the skin of both arms and ask them if the feeling is the same on each.
SPEECH: Are Words Slurred or Mispronounced?
- Are they having problems speaking?
- Are they having problems "getting their words out"?
- Do they sound like they have something in their mouth when they speak?
- Are they saying the appropriate words (do their words make sense) when they speak?
TIME: Time lost is brain lost?
- Call 911 if you experience any one of the symptoms.
Immediate treatment is the most effective option. The faster you treat stroke signs, the greater your chances of survival. The sooner you get treatment, the less likely you are to experience brain damage.
If you see a person experiencing just one of these symptoms, even if it goes away, do not wait. Call 911 immediately. Tell the dispatcher that the person may be having a stroke and request transport to a hospital certified in stroke care.
Other Early Signs of a Stroke
You may also want to watch for these other subtle, sudden signs of a stroke:
- Sudden confusion or difficulty understanding people
- Sudden severe headache or head pain, possibly with vomiting
- Difficulty swallowing that can manifest as drooling or face weakness
Types of Stroke
Another name for stroke is brain attack. A stop of blood flow to the brain causes stroke. Your brain needs oxygen and nutrients found in blood. An interruption in blood flow causes your brain cells to die. Your brain cells can die within a few minutes without blood flow. A lack of blood flow changes your brain and affect the way your body functions.
There are two different types of stroke:
- Ischemic strokes occur when a blood clot or piece of plaque blocks a major blood vessel.
- Hemorrhagic strokes happen when a blood vessel in your brain bursts. The blood spills into surrounding brain tissue. Recovery from a hemorrhagic stroke depends on the size and location of the stroke.
Sometimes an individual may experience smaller strokes (ischemic strokes) and not realize it. Nearly 87% of strokes are ischemic or minor strokes. Only 13% are hemorrhagic.
Stroke Treatment
There are several different treatment options for stroke:
-
Medications
-
Life support treatments, like machines to assist breathing
-
IV fluids and blood pressure control
-
Others applied by emergency-trained personnel
Sometimes surgery may be performed to prevent a stroke or after it has occurred:
- Carotid stenting (a procedure that opens clogged arteries to restore blood flow to your brain)
- Patent foramen ovale closure (a catheter-based procedure to close a hole in your heart)
- Left atrial appendage closure
The best treatment that we can apply ourselves is preventive treatment. Consult a doctor and study the signs of stroke to be prepared.
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