Signs of Stroke in Men and Women - FirstLight Home Care



StrokeWhat is a Stroke?A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it starts to die. Stroke is the third-leading cause of death in the United States The leading cause of adult disability Research shows the public remains unaware of stroke's warning signs and the need for immediate medical attentionMedical terminology is (CVA) ?cerebrovascular accidentTransient ischemic accident (TIA) , mini stroke, very small almost undetectable in the brainEven if the symptoms subside. Call 9-1-1!Signs and SymptomsSigns of Stroke in Men and WomenSudden?numbness?or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.Sudden?confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech.Sudden?trouble seeing?in one or both eyes.Sudden?trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination.Sudden?severe headache?with no known cause.Call 9-1-1 immediately if you or someone else has any of these symptoms.A couple of quick testsActing F.A.S.T. Is Key for StrokeActing F.A.S.T. by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, can help stroke patients get the?treatments?they desperately need. The most effective stroke treatments are only available if the stroke is recognized and diagnosed within 3 hours of the first symptoms. Stroke patients may not be eligible for the most effective treatments if they don’t arrive at the hospital in time.If you think someone may be having a stroke, act F.A.S.T.1?and do the following simple test:F—Face:?Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?A—Arms:?Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?S—Speech:?Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?T—Time:?If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.Give Me 5 For StrokeThe American College of Emergency Physicians, in partnership with the American Stroke Association and the American Academy of Neurology developed a quick tool to help people identify stroke symptoms in themselves or others called Give Me 5:?To check if someone is having a stroke, ask the person to give you five:?right0Walk:?? Is Their Balance Off?Things to look for or ask:Are they able to stand straight and tall? Or do they slump to one side?Do they appear to have lost strength on one side of their body?Are they leaning to one side when they try to walk?Are they veering off to one side?Are they dragging the foot on the side they are leaning toward? Can they tell you whether they can feel the side that they are leaning toward?right0Talk:?? Is Their Speech Slurred Or Face Droopy?Things to look for or ask:Are they having problems speaking?Are they having problems "getting their words out?"Do they sound like they have something in their mouth when they speak?Are they saying the appropriate words (do their words make sense) when they speak?Does one side of their mouth droop down?right0Reach:?? Is One Side Weak or Numb?Things to look for or ask:Ask the person to raise both their arms up together. Does one arm begin to fall down?Ask the person to squeeze your fingers with each hand; is one hand weaker than the other?If you ask the person to try to hold something like a pen, can they do it without any difficulty?Can the person feel you touch them on their arm? Lightly touch them on the skin of both arms, and ask them if the feeling is the same on each.right0See:?? Is Their Vision All or Partly Lost?Things to look for or ask:Ask the person about their vision. Do they normally wear glasses or contact lenses, or do they normally not use either of these? Ask the person to try to describe any changes in their vision.Is their vision clear?Is it blurry?Can they see everything in their field of vision? Does the person see everything or just part of the visual field?Does the person see double?right0Feel:?? Is Their Headache Severe?Things to look for or ask?Do they have a headache? On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the worst, ask them to rate their headache.Do they normally have headaches? If so, is this headache any different from their usual headache?Does this feel like the worst headache of their life?Does light bother or hurt their eyes?Does a sound or loud noise make the headache worse?Don't wait. Call 9-1-1!If you see even just one of these symptoms, even if it goes away, do not wait, call 9-1-1 immediately, this person may be having a stroke.If you think you or someone has had a stroke:Call 911 immediately!Note the time when any symptoms first appearSome treatments for stroke only work if given in the first 3 hours after symptoms appearDo not drive to the hospital or let someone else drive you. Call an ambulance so that medical personnel can begin life-saving treatment on the way to the emergency room.Treating a Transient Ischemic AttackIf your symptoms go away after a few minutes, you may have had a?transient ischemic attack (TIA), or mini stroke Although brief, a TIA is a sign of a serious condition that will not go away without medical help. Tell your health care team about your symptoms right away.Unfortunately, because TIAs clear up, many people ignore them. Don’t be one of those people! Paying attention to a TIA can save your life.?If you have a stroke, you may receive emergency care, treatment to prevent another stroke, rehabilitation to treat the side effects of stroke, or all three.Emergency Treatment - brain scans to show the type of strokeIf you get to the hospital within 3 hours of the first symptoms, a health care provider may give you a type of medicine called a thrombolytic (a "clot-busting" drug) to break up blood clots. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a thrombolytic.Medicine, surgery, or other procedures may be needed to stop the bleeding and save brain tissue. For example:Endovascular procedures. Endovascular procedures may be used to treat certain hemorrhagic strokes. Surgical treatment. Hemorrhagic strokes may be treated with surgeryPreventing Another StrokeIf you have had a stroke, you are at high risk for another stroke:1 of 4 stroke survivors has another stroke within 5 years.5The risk of stroke within 90 days of a TIA may be as high as 17%, with the greatest risk during the first week.6It's important to treat the underlying causes of stroke, including heart disease, high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation (fast, irregular heartbeat), high cholesterol, and diabetes. Your doctor may give you medications or tell you to change your diet, exercise, or adopt other healthy lifestyle. Surgery may also be helpful in some cases.Stroke RehabilitationAfter a stroke, you may need rehabilitation (rehab) to help you recover. Rehab can include working with speech, physical, and occupational therapists:Speech therapy helps people who have problems producing or understanding speech.Physical therapy uses exercises to help you relearn movement and coordination skills you may have lost because of the stroke.Occupational therapy focuses on improving daily activities, such as eating, drinking, dressing, bathing, reading, and writing.Therapy and medications may help with depression or other mental health conditions following a stroke. Joining a patient support group may help you adjust to life after a stroke. Talk with your health care team about local support groups, or check with an area medical center.Support from family and friends can also help relieve fear and anxiety following a stroke. Let your loved ones know how you feel and what they can do to help you.We at FirstLight HomeCare of SouthBay specialize in assisting people that have had a stroke with assistance in continuing the therapy process. We do this by following the therapy instructions given to the client. More information on strokes can be found at , or our SouthBay.Your viewers are also welcome to call us at (424) 704-5330 for assistance or if they have questions. ................
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