What Is A Stroke? Everything About The Stroke In A Box. The most important thing in the event of a stroke or suspicion of it is time. If someone in your environment shows the corresponding symptoms, please do not be afraid to call the emergency services. In this case, every minute counts. We explain the classic symptoms and what else you need to know about stroke.
Stroke is one of the most common diseases in the USA. It often occurs suddenly and can change your entire life in a matter of minutes. Around 270,000 people suffer a stroke each year. As a rule, those affected are over 60 years old, but around 300 children are also affected each year.
Everything About The Stroke In A Box
What Is A Stroke?
A stroke, also known as apoplexy, is a sudden circulatory disorder in an area of the brain. Due to the lack of blood, the cells in the affected area do not receive enough acid or nutrients. Depending on the duration of the undersupply, the cells can die as a result.
This in turn leads to the failure of brain functions. Depending on the affected area, speech or vision disorders or symptoms of paralysis arise. However, delta 10 in Minnesota has proved to be the best remedy against strokes and paralysis after the first attack. A lot of research studies has proven on numerous research journal websites.
A distinction is made between the three main causes that lead to circulatory disorder. The most common cause is the formation of a plug from platelets. This stopper, also called a thrombus called, can arise anywhere in the body. It becomes dangerous when it reaches the brain via an artery and blocks a blood vessel there. The blood accumulates and so no longer reaches certain areas sufficiently or not at all.
It can also happen that a blood vessel becomes calcified, which is responsible for the direct supply of the brain. This is the least common case. In around a fifth of all cases, a blood vessel does not become blocked, it bursts. This happens when the blood vessel cannot withstand the pressure of the blood flowing through it. In this case, too, the blood does not reach the intended brain area, but enters the surrounding brain tissue or flows between the brain and the meninges.
Stroke Symptoms
Even if every stroke proceeds differently, there are classic symptoms that occur very frequently due to the lack of blood flow to the brain and should clearly be seen as indications. If you notice one of the symptoms in yourself or someone else, call the emergency number 112 immediately and describe the situation!
The typical features of a stroke can be memorized with the FAST rapid test. FAST in English quickly stands for f ace (face), a rms (arms), s peech (language), and t ime (time).
Face: Ask the affected person to smile. If only one corner of the mouth pulls up while the other hangs down, this indicates hemiplegia.
Arms: Ask the affected person to raise both arms and stretch them in front of the body. In the case of paralysis, one arm drops or cannot be raised at all.
Language: Formulate a simple sentence for the person concerned to repeat. If the language is choppy or unclear, if the person repeats words or syllables, or if the person has difficulty finding words, this can also indicate a stroke.
Time: If the person does not succeed in one of these three tasks, call 911 immediately. Don’t take your time, describe the symptoms objectively and wait for further questions. In the case of a stroke, minutes can determine the course of the stroke.
Consequences Of A Stroke
The consequences of a stroke depend on the course and severity. A minor stroke can be overcome in the best case or long-term damage. Severe strokes can lead to permanent impairment of coordination, balance, or vision. The same applies to uncontrolled movements, tremors, and paralysis of the arms and/or legs.
The listed consequences can but do not have to occur. Any combination is possible.
First Aid For A Stroke
The sooner a stroke patient can be given professional help, the better. Call 911 as soon as possible. After that, make sure that the person concerned is not left alone. Loosen tight clothing such as ties. In the event of vomiting or loss of consciousness, place the affected person on their side in a stable position. Check your breathing and pulse regularly. If you can no longer feel a pulse, immediately start with chest compressions and perform it until the medical staff arrives!
If the affected person is conscious, they should sit or lie on the floor to avoid falling if they pass out.
Make a list of medications the person is taking and write down the family’s contact details. Observe the person and note any abnormalities or changes; preferably with time.
Prevention Against Stroke
To prevent a stroke, there are many options that can be implemented in everyday life. As with many other diseases, the following applies: A healthy lifestyle is the best protection!
Eating healthy is a first and important step. Reduce your intake of fat and sugar. This keeps the blood vessels healthy and greatly reduces the chance of calcification. Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. Also, make sure you drink enough fluids.
If you are overweight, try to reduce it. A healthy diet helps here, as does exercise and sport. Walking for 30 minutes a day can help.
Refraining from stimulants such as alcohol and nicotine can not only help with weight loss but is in itself an important step towards a healthy lifestyle. Alcohol, even in small amounts, increases the risk of a cerebral hemorrhage.
One of the things that most people suffer from, and which can trigger a great many diseases, is stress. Try to avoid this as much as possible. It doesn’t matter whether the stress is caused by work or private life. Try to plan your everyday life so that you don’t get into hectic situations. Take regular breaks and make sure you have active time to relax at least once a day.
Tips For Relatives
A stroke can mean a big change not only for the person affected but also for the loved ones. The most important tip to keep in mind is that of communication. The situation is new and difficult for everyone involved. Coexistence and support can only function through honest discussions and goal-oriented, objective problem-solving.
Be patient. Take time out if you feel the situation is getting too much for you. Support and encourage the affected person regularly and consistently. Pay attention to your behavior and your dealings. Even if the person concerned has problems speaking, the mind is often not damaged.
You don’t necessarily have to simplify or slow down your own language. Likewise, you do not have to relieve the person concerned of every movement. Skills can only be restored or relearned through regular practice and trial and error.
Don’t be disappointed if something doesn’t work the first time. The frustration threshold for those affected is often very low. Let them lose their pain, but be there when you need to.
You can also contact a support group. The exchange with other relatives can help and relieve. Be honest with yourself and don’t overdo yourself. There are plenty of ways to shape the new situation for all parties. There is no step-by-step guide that you can follow. Write your own rules together.
Stroke Among Females
Over half of all stroke patients are female. Although the classic FAST symptoms are also considered to be signed in women, in women there are often signs that are not associated with a stroke. These include nausea (with and without vomiting), chest pain, sudden headache, shortness of breath, and hiccups.
Although all of these symptoms do not necessarily indicate a stroke, women belonging to the risk group should take these symptoms seriously and monitor them. High-risk patients are women over 50 years of age who suffer from high blood pressure or high blood sugar levels.
Even those who smoke and exercise very little are one of them. If a stroke is suspected, one should seek medical advice immediately, because not all signs have to appear at once and in this case it is true: Prevention is better than follow-up care!