Introduction:
Stroke is one of the most common diseases. Someone in the world develops a stroke every 40 seconds. Therefore, everyone needs to know how to recognize a stroke. Especially since now, the advancements in medicine improve the outcome of stroke. However, the administration of the medicine has to be within the first three hours after the onset of stroke. Therefore, recognizing the syndrome and getting to a hospital within that time frame is essential. So, a quicker response to stroke is essential for better treatment and thereby, reducing morbidity and mortality.
What Is a Stroke?
A stroke happens when the brain is either not getting enough blood supply, or when there has been bleeding inside the brain due to a ruptured blood vessel. The damage to the brain and the associated symptoms may be temporary and recover quickly, or they may be long-term and persist over a while.
Stroke may develop acutely or in a staggered pattern depending on whether it is developing secondary to a bleed, a thrombus, or emboli. The symptoms may affect the sensorium, the senses, the power, or more delicate functions like speech and vision.
What Are the Warning Signs and Symptoms of Stroke?
A few of the symptoms and warning signs of stroke that one can look for are:
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Weakness of one side of the body, including arms, legs, and face, is more commonly known as paralysis.
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The weakness may be associated with tingling, numbness, or sensory loss in the affected area. In a few cases, these sensory symptoms may happen without paralysis.
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Speech and vision may be affected. The patient cannot talk properly, or may not understand what is being said to them. Similarly, they may not be able to see one side, more commonly the affected side.
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Sometimes the patient has good power, but they are not well coordinated. The balance of the patient might be lost.
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Sometimes all that the patients may complain of is vertigo. Therefore, the doctor needs to know the other associated features one may have noted along with the dizziness, to rule out associated conditions.
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Headache may be an associated feature. It is more commonly a feature of bleeding (with or without vomiting and or loss of consciousness).
What Are the First Steps in Dealing With Stroke?
Dealing with stroke requires prompt action to reduce damage. The first steps in dealing with stroke are as follows:
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Recognize the Symptoms: The common signs of a stroke include, face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, and call emergency services.
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Do Not Rush: Do not rush to the emergency room. Instead, wait for the emergency responders to arrive, as they can handle the condition in the best manner and can provide life-saving treatment.
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Do Not Delay: An individual should not delay or wait for the symptoms to worsen. They should contact a healthcare provider for an early intervention.
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Do Not Offer Food and Medications: Do not self-medicate, eat or drink. Having specific medications, like aspirin, can worsen a stroke as a stroke usually affects the swallowing ability so, it is best to avoid such situations.
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Loosen Tight Clothing: Loose tight clothing around the neck, it will help in breathing.
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Monitor Vital Signs: The vital signs of the affected person should be monitored by performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (emergency lifesaving technique).
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Do Not Let the Person Sleep: Do not slumber or let the patient sleep. When a stroke occurs, initially sudden sleepiness can be felt. While it may seem tempting to sleep to feel better. However, this does not help and only delays the treatment.
What Is the Treatment of a Stroke?
The treatment of a stroke depends on the type of stroke that the patient goes through, including the part of the brain that is affected and its cause.
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A stroke is generally treated with medications like those that prevent and dissolve blood clots, decrease blood pressure, and lower cholesterol levels. Medications, such as antiplatelet drugs, like Aspirin and anticoagulants are prescribed.
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However, in certain cases, special procedures may be needed to remove blood clots. Special procedures include thrombolytic therapy (tissue plasminogen activator is administered within a few hours after the onset of the symptoms) and endovascular treatment (a catheter is placed at the site of the clot to remove or break it.
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Surgery may also be done in cases of brain swelling to eliminate it and lower the chances of further bleeding.
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Patients who survive a stroke are usually left with long-term issues due to injury to their brain. In certain cases, a long period of rehabilitation is needed before the patient can recover their former independence. Whereas, many patients never recover completely and need support throughout their life.
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An individual should quit smoking to reduce stroke risk.
What Is Stroke Rehabilitation?
Stroke rehabilitation can involve working with specialists, such as speech, physical, and occupational therapists. Speech therapy helps patients with producing sound or understanding speech. Physical therapy involves exercises to help the patient learn movements and coordination skills again that he may have due to stroke. Occupational therapy concentrates on improving daily activities, like eating, drinking, dressing, bathing, reading, writing, etc.
Therapies and drugs may help with depression or other mental health issues that occur after a stroke. Joining a patient support group may also aid in adjusting to life following a stroke. Support from family and friends also assists in relieving post-stroke fear and anxiety.
How to Prevent Another Stroke?
A person who survived a stroke is at a higher risk for another stroke. So, it is essential to treat the causes of stroke, which include the following:
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Heart disease.
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Atrial fibrillation (fast, irregular heartbeat).
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High cholesterol levels.
Besides prescribing the medicines, the doctor generally advises the patient to change the diet, to be involved in physical exercise, or to embrace other healthy lifestyle behaviors.
Conclusion:
Stroke is counted in the list of frequently occurring life-threatening or disabling conditions. Correct knowledge about it is necessary for everyone so that the required treatment is taken at the right time and the patient can be saved from the consequences of the stroke to the maximum. In case of any doubt, an individual should contact a healthcare professional.
