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.If you can get the stroke victim to the hospital within three hours of the attack, the odds are good that the victim will not only survive but have a complete recovery.

First, some facts about strokes and who is mmost likely to suffer one.Every minute, someone in the United States has a stroke. There are nearly 3/4 of a million people who suffer strokes each year in the U.S. alone. A third of them die and another third suffer permanent disability of some sort.

Strokes are caused by a lot of factors, but a stroke occurs when the brain is deprived of blood due to a blockage in the carotid artery or a plaque particle breaking away from the walls of the carotid artety and lodging in the brain, depriving it of the blood it needs to nourish the body.

Who’s At Risk

Your chances of having a stroke are higher if you fall into these categories
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 adhere to the blood vessel walls,which clogs the arteries to the brain and causes a stroke.
Prior stroke victims are more likely to suffer another stroke than the general population.

Symptoms of A Stroke

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. His smile will appear to be crooked if he’s having a stroke.
2.) Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)(i.e. It’s a beautiful day today. Stroke victims will not be able to do this.
3.See if the person can raise both arms over his head. He won’t be able to raise both arms.
4.) Ask him to STICK OUT HIS TONGUE. If the tongue is ‘crooked’, if it goes to one side or the other,that is also an indication of a stroke.
If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

Another sign that you’ve had a TIA, or mini-stroke, is a heaviness in your leg or legs that makes it unusually difficult to walk or climb the stairs.The victim might fall as he climbs the stairs because one leg just didn’t clear the stair all the way, resulting in tripping. A victim is likely to lose his balance if he gets up out of a chair quickly and might fall down and 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 you dodged a bullet today! The odds are that you’ve survived and haven’t had any permanent damage to your brain.

If this happens to you or your friend, consider this a warning, and lifestyle changes and digilence in the future are mandatory.