Stroke

General Information on Stroke

A stroke is a sudden decrease in the blood supply to part of the brain. A stroke can be caused by a blood clot that forms in narrow arteries within the brain itself or travels to the brain after being dislodged from another location in the bloodstream. A brain hemorrhage due to a ruptured blood vessel can also cause stroke. A stroke will often inflict an unpredictable degree of damage to the brain. The central nervous system and musculoskeletal systems is most commonly affected.

Risk factors for a stroke include diabetes, family history of stroke, prior stroke, smoking, heart disease, high blood pressure, and prior ischemic attacks. Men are more often affected than women. A stroke can occur at any age, but are most common in adults over the age of 60.

Symptoms of Stroke

Symptoms vary depending on the part of the brain affected and the severity of the stroke. Common symptoms may include:

Inability to move part of the body (may affect one side or the other)
Inability to speak
Slurred speech
Sudden “heavy” feeling in an arm or leg
Feeling of numbness (often on one side of the body)
Inability to control muscles
Vision changes
Headache (sometimes severe)
Confusion
Dizziness
Loss of bowel control
Loss of bladder control
Loss of consciousness

Treatments For Stroke

Without early treatment a stroke can cause serious life long complications, including paralysis, speaking difficulties, severe mental and physical problems, and death. In fact over 65% of all strokes result in a fatality, permanent damage, or disability. The first few hours of treatment are the most critical for effective treatment. Therefore, if you think yourself or some you know is having stroke, contact 911 for emergency medical assistance immediately. Emergency hospital care will issue tests of heart function, brain function, and other body functions.

Treatment will require medications aimed to break up clots, contain brain swelling, and prevent complications. Additional drugs for high blood pressure and clot prevention may be prescribed. Other immediate treatment steps include supplemental oxygen, techniques designed to break up clots, and surgery. Hospital care will be required until all the symptoms have improved. In many cases, long term hospital care and rehabilitation will be necessary. Rehabilitation will include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Many techniques are designed to help the patient regain basic motor control. The effectiveness and extent of rehabilitation necessary may differ from patient to patient and depends on the extent of brain injury. Patient attitude and family support is extremely important in the patient’s success. In some cases, complete recovery is possible without prolonged disability.

Again, if you, a family member, or somebody you observe is experiencing symptoms similar to those listed above, contact 911 immediately for emergency medical assistance.

Personal Experience

Stroke - personal experiences