How To Recognize A Stroke

The immediate symptoms of stroke are inability to hold or pick up objects and a contorted facial expression. These signs may appear all of a sudden under any circumstance. Stroke is the third largest cause of all deaths in the United States. Stroke happens when blood fails to reach the brain due to a blood clot in the blood vessel or a ruptured blood vessel.

When the blood supply to the brain is stopped, the brain is deprived of its life sustaining supply of oxygen and other nutrients, rendering it unable to function normally. Recovery from stroke, though difficult but possible, depends on how fast it is diagnosed and medically treated. Based on how the blood supply to the brain is stopped, strokes are classified into two categories.

The Ischemic stroke is caused when the blood supply to the brain is stopped by a blood clot in the blood vessel and if the blood supply is stopped by a ruptured blood vessel, it is a case of Hemorrhagic stroke. The end result of both these types of stroke is the same; deprive the brain of oxygen and nutrients. Unlike in the past, recovery from stroke is possible to some extent these days.

Clot bursting drugs are the most effective treatment for an Ischemic stroke if they are given to the patients within three hours of the first symptoms of stroke. Other preventive measures for Ischemic stroke include taking anti-coagulant drugs to keep the blood thin and removal of blocked blood vessels or angioplasty.

Surgery becomes necessary in most cases of hemorrhagic stroke either to remove the affected blood vessel or to insert coils to strengthen the blood vessel and to stop it from rupturing. Recovery from an attack of stroke depends on how fast medical treatment is provided to the patient.

The sooner the treatment, the less will be the damage to the brain. A stroke generally results in permanent paralysis of parts of the body, loss of speech and memory. Eyesight can also be lost in some cases. Continued physical exercise helps a great deal in the recovery process.

Courage and determination from the patient’s side are crucial to make the recovery fast and significant. Those who look after stroke patients need to be healthy themselves because caring for the paralyzed and physically disabled stroke patients is a laborious task.

Get as many reliable people as possible involved in taking care of the patient so that one doesn’t get too strained by doing everything on his/her own. As far as possible, encourage the patient to be independent and get him/her perform those duties which the patient liked to do before the stroke.

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