Diagnosis and Treatment of A Stroke
If you or someone you know is having a stroke, a quick diagnosis and treatment might be the difference between life or death or permanent paralysis if the stroke victim survives. So it is essential that you know the signs of a stroke.The odds of not only surviving a stroke but recovering from one are dramatically increased if you get the stroke victim to a hospital within three hours of the attack.
First, some facts about strokes and who is mmost likely to suffer one.At least one person dies each minute from a stroke in the U.S. Nearly 775,000 persons have strokes in the U.S. each year. A third of them die and another third suffer permanent paralysis,speech loss,and/or memory loss.
Strokes can be caused by any one of several factors, but basically the immediate cause is a blockage of blood to the brain by plaque build up in the carotid artery or by a piece of plaque breaking free and blocking blood to the brain.
Who’s At Risk
Risk factors for having a stroke are
1) Hereditary–If a person comes from a family where other members have suffered strokes.
2) Gender–Women are more likely to have a stroke than men.
3) Age–The chance of having a stroke approximately doubles for each decade of life after age 55.Stroke is more common among persons over 65, but it also hits younger persons as well.
4) Race–African Americans are more likely to have one than are Caucasians.
5) Medical History–Sickle cell anemia. Sickled red blood cells are unable to carry as much oxygen to the rest of the body. They also can stick to the walls of the blood vessels, which can block arteries to the brain, causing a stroke.
Persons who are prior stroke victims or who have had a mini stroke, called a TIA, are much more likely to have another stroke.
Stroke Symptoms
Doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking the victim four simple questions:
1.Ask the person to flash a big smile at you. If he’s having a stroke, he won’t be able to smile normally–his smile wille be distorted.
2.) Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)(i.e. Tom is a terrific teenager. A stroke victim will not be able to do this easily.
3.See if the victim can Raise Both Arms. He’ll only be able to raise one.
4.) Ask him to STICK OUT HIS TONGUE. If the victim’s tongue looks crooked or doesn’t stick out straight, the odds are that a stroke has happened to him.
If any of these tasks were a prblem to complete, it’s time to get to the hospital immediately. Start with 911 and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.
Additional signs of a TIA, or mini-stroke, include a feeling that one leg or arm is heavier than the other and walking or climbing stairs is difficult.The victim might trip when climbing the stairs because one leg didn’t clear a stair. The victim loses his or her sense of balance and might even fall over and then have difficulty getting up.
If this happens to you or someone you’re with, go to the hospital immediately and tell the receptionist you’re suffering from or are with someone else who is exhibiting possible stroke symptoms.You’ll get top priority for getting an immediate diagnosis and treatment. And congratulations! You’ll likely survive and escape any permanent damage.
If you have this experience and everything works out ok, remember that this is a warning and lifestyle changes are mandatory to keep another, more serious stroke from happening again.
Tags: diagnosis and treatment stroke, facts about stroke, having a stroke, mini stroke, possible stroke symptoms, prior stroke victim, risk factors stroke, signs of stroke, strokes causes, TIA