What is a Stroke?
A stroke is one of the scariest health problems in the world today. It is caused by a lack of blood flow to the brain due to a hemorrhage and involves the loss of brain functions. One section of the brain is unable to function following a stroke, which leads to the inability to move one or more limbs, loss of vision on one side of the body and problems forming speech or understanding someone else speaking. A stroke can cause permanent brain damage, other physical complications and even death. Strokes can be either ischemic or hemorrhagic. Strokes are the number two leading cause of death worldwide and are the number one cause of adult disability in the United States.
The people who are at more risk than others to suffer from a stroke are people of advanced age, people who suffer from high blood pressure, people who have suffered from a stroke previously, people with diabetes, high cholesterol, smoke cigarettes and those who suffer from atrial fibrillation. Strokes are usually treated by busting up blood clots, taking high blood pressure medicine and taking aspirin.
A stroke can happen within minutes, even seconds. That is how quickly the symptoms can develop. Symptoms are droopiness in the eyelid, inability to keep eyes open, decrease in reflexes, problems balancing, altered breathing, altered heart rate, confusion, trouble walking and vertigo.
Doctors diagnose strokes by performing a series of tests. Those tests include CT Scans, PET Scans and MRIs. Ultrasounds and angiograms are also used in the detection of strokes.
Victims of strokes that survive the harrowing experience must undergo rehabilitation that involves relearning everyday skills to make life a little bit easier on the patient. Those skills include walking, balancing, speaking, eating and mobility. Rehabilitation also educates the patient about what happened, what happens next and making sure the family members know how to help the patient. One third of all stroke patients also suffer from post-stroke depression, which entails the help of psychologists. Some patients have live-in nurses to monitor their vital signs, help them bathe, eat, stay hydrated and body positioning. Many stroke patients going through rehabilitation use wheelchairs, canes and walkers to assist them around.
Some stroke patients also suffer from dementia. Dementia is a progressive disease within the body that creates a decline in the cognitive functions of the brain due to damage from outside sources, such as a stroke, or other diseases within the body. Dementia is a stronger form of cognitive decline than what most people suffer from when their age is increasing.
The only factor that causes strokes that can be controlled is high blood pressure. Once a patient is checked and diagnosed with high blood pressure they can control it through proper medicine and a proper diet. If the blood pressure returns to abnormal levels it can lead to a stroke for some patients. If the high blood pressure levels are kept in control and at a normal level then a stroke can be avoided.
News Insiders latest 5 Article by admin
News Insiders Related Articles
Health News