A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain has been halted due to bleeding into the brain or by the formation of a clot. This means that blood flow cannot reach other important areas of the brain, therefore resulting in a stroke. A person experiencing a stroke will begin to exhibit signs. Some signs can be minor and may last for only a few minutes, however if the signs last much longer it is imperative to seek the assistance of a medical professional. The longer the symptoms go on unattended, the more damage they can cause, thus resulting in lifelong disability.
What are the signs?
- A tingling sensation in the face, arms or legs - Inability to move or weakness on one side of the body - Vision disruptions - Speech problems - Inability to understand speech - Nausea - Pain - Dizziness - Severe Headache
If you know of someone around you experiencing these signs, call 011 immediately and seek the help of medical professionals.
Risks for Stroke:
- Age: After age 55, the risks double every 10 years. - Family history and ethnicity - Gender: Women are less likely than men to suffer a stroke. - Previous stroke - Atrial Fibrillation - Fractures of the long bone resulting in a fat embolism
What to do to reduce your risk:
Take all medications prescribed by your physician. Monitor blood pressure. Lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Quit Smoking. Eat a healthy diet. Get plenty of exercise.
Physicians use a CT, MRI or Angiogram to determine the location of a stroke, the amount of damage it caused as well as what type of stroke was experienced.
For more sever forms of stroke such as ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, surgical intervention may be required. However, there are medications available for milder case, but they must be given within hours of experiencing a stroke.
After Stroke care:
Every patient is different and so are recovery times after a stroke has occurred. A timeline can range from a few days to over a year to recover full function. In some cases, the use of physical, occupational and speech therapy may be needed.
Medications include:
Antiplatelet - Prevents the formation of clots by not allowing platelets to adhere together - Thrombolytics -This is a clot bluster that loosens or breaks a clot apart which is then carried away by phagocytic cells - Anticoagulants - These prevent the formation of clots especially in those patients with A-fib as they are extremely prone to clots due solely because of the continuous contractions of the atria in the heart.
If you have other chronic diseases present such as diabetes or hypertension, keeping these values in the normal range will help to prevent, or lessen the likelihood of a stroke event.
Having an exercise regimen at least three days a week can lower blood pressure. Blood pressure is the number one factor in bringing on a stroke or hemorrhagic strokes.
Healthy eating consisting of a diet containing whole grains and nuts, fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and foods low in fat and high in fiber help to lower your risks that cause strokes. - 26706
What are the signs?
- A tingling sensation in the face, arms or legs - Inability to move or weakness on one side of the body - Vision disruptions - Speech problems - Inability to understand speech - Nausea - Pain - Dizziness - Severe Headache
If you know of someone around you experiencing these signs, call 011 immediately and seek the help of medical professionals.
Risks for Stroke:
- Age: After age 55, the risks double every 10 years. - Family history and ethnicity - Gender: Women are less likely than men to suffer a stroke. - Previous stroke - Atrial Fibrillation - Fractures of the long bone resulting in a fat embolism
What to do to reduce your risk:
Take all medications prescribed by your physician. Monitor blood pressure. Lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Quit Smoking. Eat a healthy diet. Get plenty of exercise.
Physicians use a CT, MRI or Angiogram to determine the location of a stroke, the amount of damage it caused as well as what type of stroke was experienced.
For more sever forms of stroke such as ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, surgical intervention may be required. However, there are medications available for milder case, but they must be given within hours of experiencing a stroke.
After Stroke care:
Every patient is different and so are recovery times after a stroke has occurred. A timeline can range from a few days to over a year to recover full function. In some cases, the use of physical, occupational and speech therapy may be needed.
Medications include:
Antiplatelet - Prevents the formation of clots by not allowing platelets to adhere together - Thrombolytics -This is a clot bluster that loosens or breaks a clot apart which is then carried away by phagocytic cells - Anticoagulants - These prevent the formation of clots especially in those patients with A-fib as they are extremely prone to clots due solely because of the continuous contractions of the atria in the heart.
If you have other chronic diseases present such as diabetes or hypertension, keeping these values in the normal range will help to prevent, or lessen the likelihood of a stroke event.
Having an exercise regimen at least three days a week can lower blood pressure. Blood pressure is the number one factor in bringing on a stroke or hemorrhagic strokes.
Healthy eating consisting of a diet containing whole grains and nuts, fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and foods low in fat and high in fiber help to lower your risks that cause strokes. - 26706
About the Author:
Barb Hicks is a licensed registered nurse and featured health writer on Clivir.com. You can find here her lessons on Common Cause of Stroke and other information about Stroke Early Symptoms.
