Stroke Patients | Definition, Types, Treatment, Prevention
What is a Stroke?
- Stroke is a major health concern worldwide, causing death and disability.
- According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a stroke is caused by the interruption of the blood supply to the brain, usually, because a blood vessel bursts or is blocked by a clot. This cuts off the supply of oxygen and nutrients, causing damage to the brain tissue.
- When a stroke occurs part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so the brain cells die.
- A stroke is a medical emergency that can lead to disability or death.
- A Stroke is a major health concern worldwide, causing death and disability.
Handling Stroke Patients:
Handling Stroke patients needed a person who is passionate about providing care and we have to consider a lot of things about your understanding of providing care to stroke patients. It is very important to have the knowledge and know what are the things must know about Stroke. Now let’s have some understanding and learning about the meaning of stroke patients, what are signs and symptoms of stroke patients, what are the types of strokes, what are the proper ways of providing gold standard quality care of a stroke patients.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a stroke is caused by the interruption of the blood supply to the brain, usually, because a blood vessel bursts or is blocked by a clot. This cuts off the supply of oxygen and nutrients, causing damage to the brain tissue.
Types of Stroke:
- The first type is Ischemic stroke and it is the most common type of stroke, making up 87% of all cases. A blood clot prevents blood and oxygen from reaching an area of the brain.
- The second type of stroke called, Hemorrhagic stroke. This occurs when a blood vessel ruptures. These are usually the result of aneurysms or arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).
- Lastly, a person may also have a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA). This occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is inadequate for a brief period of time. Normal blood flow resumes after a short amount of time, and the symptoms resolve without treatment. Some people call this a ministroke.
Signs and symptoms of Stroke Patients:
- Trouble speaking and understanding what others are saying
- Paralysis or numbness of the face, arm, or leg
- Problems seeing in one or both eyes
- Severe headache that comes on for no reason
- Trouble walking or staying balanced or coordinated Dizziness
When To Check A Doctor?
Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any signs or symptoms of a stroke, even if they seem to come and go or they disappear completely. Think “FAST” and do the following:
- Ask the person to smile
- Does one side of the face droop?
- Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? Or is one arm unable to rise?
- Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is his or her speech slurred or strange?
- If you observe any of these signs, call 999 or emergency medical help immediately.
- Call 999. Do not wait to see if symptoms stop. Every minute counts. The longer a stroke goes untreated the greater the potential for brain-damaged and disability.
Treatment for Stroke Patients:
A stroke is a potentially life-changing event that can have lasting physical and emotional effects. The process of recovering from a stroke usually includes treatment, spontaneous recovery, rehabilitation, and the return to community living. Because stroke survivors often have serious rehabilitation needs, progress and recovery are different for each person.
Treatment for stroke patients begins in a hospital with “acute care.” This first step includes helping the patients survive, preventing another stroke patients, and taking care of any other medical problems. Rehabilitation is another part of treatment.
It helps the person keep abilities and gain back lost abilities to become more independent. It usually begins while the patient is still in acute care. For many patients, it continues afterward, either as a formal rehabilitation program or as individual rehabilitation services. Many decisions about rehabilitation are made by the patient, family, and hospital staff before discharge from acute care. Successful recovery from a stroke will often involve specific therapies and support systems including:
- Speech therapy: This helps with problems producing or understanding speech.
- Physical therapy: This can help a person relearn movement and coordination
- Occupational therapy: This can help a person improve their ability to carry out daily activities, such as bathing, cooking, dressing, eating, reading, and writing.
- Support groups: Joining a support group can help a person cope with common mental health issues that can occur after a stroke, such as depression. Many find it useful to share common experiences and exchange information.
- Support from friends and family: Close friends and relatives should try to offer practical support and comfort after a stroke. Letting friends and family know what they can do to help is very important.
Prevention for Stroke Patients:
Knowing your stroke risk factors, following your doctor’s advice, and adopting a healthy lifestyle are the best steps you can take to prevent a stroke. Many stroke prevention strategies are the same as strategies to prevent heart disease. In general, healthy lifestyle recommendations include:
- Controlling high blood pressure (hypertension)
- Lowering the amount of cholesterol and saturated fat in your diet
- Quitting tobacco use
- Managing diabetes
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables
- Exercising regularly
- Drinking alcohol in moderation
- Avoiding illegal drugs
References:
http://www.cdc.gov/stroke/facts_stroke.htm
0