Strokes are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. They also affect nearly one million Americans every year, and they are considered to be one of the most serious health problems facing Americans today. A stroke occurs when blood flow to part or all of your brain is interrupted by a blockage (a clot) or a burst vessel. It can affect your ability to move, speak, see, or think clearly - or any combination of these things. If you suspect someone is having a stroke, there are several things you can do right away that may help save their life and prevent other complications down the road:
The signs and symptoms of a stroke vary, depending on where the stroke occurs.
A stroke is a brain attack. It occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or interrupted, causing brain cells to die. A stroke can be caused by a blood clot or bleeding in the brain. Stroke symptoms vary depending on where the stroke occurred and how severe it was. Some people have no warning signs before a stroke, while others have several days' worth of warning signs (for example dizziness/fainting).
The most common symptom of an ischemic (caused by clots) or hemorrhagic (caused by bleeding) stroke is sudden weakness of the face, arm, or leg on one side of your body; this may include speech problems such as slurred speech or difficulty understanding what others are saying; sudden dimness in vision in one eye combined with pain behind that eye; trouble recognizing people you know well who are standing right next to you
One or more of these signs may be present, depending on where the stroke occurred:
If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these signs, it's important to call 9-1-1 immediately. One or more of these signs may be present, depending on where the stroke occurred:
- Difficulty speaking or understanding others
- Difficulty seeing in one or both eyes
- Numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg (especially on one side of the body)
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
If anyone has any doubt about a possible stroke, they should call 9-1-1 immediately and describe their symptoms over the phone while waiting for help to arrive.
A Word about Stroke in Young People
Strokes are more common in younger people, and they're also more likely to be fatal. Younger adults who have had a stroke are more likely to die from another stroke than older adults who have had one. Strokes also tend to recur at an earlier age for younger people than for older ones--and these recurrent strokes can be even more serious than the first one was!
Younger individuals face additional challenges when it comes to recovering from a stroke: they may have different symptoms or require different treatments than older individuals do; they may also experience unique social challenges that could impede their ability to recover completely or fully function independently again after recovery has been achieved
What is a Stroke?
A stroke is a medical emergency that causes brain damage. It's the leading cause of disability in adults and can happen to anyone at any time. Strokes occur when blood flow to the brain is blocked or reduced. This can be caused by a clot or bleeding in the brain. A stroke can occur in people of any age, but older adults are at an increased risk for having one because their arteries have become narrowed from years of high blood pressure and cholesterol build up inside them (atherosclerosis). The risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking cigarettes (especially if you're over 40 years old).
Stroke treatment must begin within 3 hours after onset to prevent permanent brain damage! Treatment options include medications such as aspirin or clopidogrel; IV fluids; antiplatelet drugs such as tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) which dissolves clots forming on arterial walls; surgery if one wishes removal/exclusionary procedure(s) performed upon themselves post-stroke event(s).
What to Do If You Think You're Having a Stroke - If you believe that you might be having a stroke, this is what you should do:
If you believe that you might be having a stroke, this is what you should do:
- Call 9-1-1 immediately. Do not drive yourself to the hospital; instead, wait for emergency medical personnel to arrive on the scene.
- Stay calm and answer all questions truthfully as they ask them of you. This will help them assess your condition more quickly and accurately than if they were trying to figure everything out themselves without any information from their patient/client/friend/family member/etcetera (you get the idea).
- If possible, describe your symptoms so that medics can determine whether or not it's safe for them to give medications like tPA or IV thrombolysis during transport without first consulting with another physician who specializes in treating strokes (like an interventional neuroradiologist).
When to Call 911 - If you are in the hospital after a stroke, here are some important questions to ask your doctor.
- When to Call 911 - If you are in the hospital after a stroke, here are some important questions to ask your doctor.
- Emergency room (ER): Ask if there is an emergency room near you that has a stroke unit, a neurologist and neurosurgeon on call, or both. If not, ask who can help you get to one immediately.
- Stroke unit: This is a specialized area within an ER where patients with suspected strokes receive rapid diagnosis and treatment until they can be transferred to another facility if needed (such as an intensive care unit). A healthcare professional trained in stroke care should be available 24 hours per day at all times when staffing permits (this includes physicians who specialize in treating strokes).
Telemedicine has become an important part of treating patients with acute strokes.
Telemedicine has become an important part of treating patients with acute strokes.
Early intervention is key to lowering the mortality rate from stroke, which is currently at 25 percent. Telemedicine can help doctors get to the hospital quickly, diagnose strokes more accurately and provide treatment options that can save lives. In fact, according to a study published in JAMA Neurology (2014), the use of telemedicine was associated with a lower risk for death 90 days after initial treatment compared with no use of telemedicine (2).
Conclusion
The most important thing you can do is to recognize the signs and symptoms of a stroke, and then call 911 immediately. Time is of the essence when it comes to stroke treatment, so every second counts!