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Recognizing The Signs Of A Stroke

Stroke Diagnosis and Treatment

If you or someone you know is having a stroke, a quick diagnosis and treatment might be the difference between life or death or permanent paralysis if the stroke victim survives. So it is essential that you know the signs of a stroke.If you can get the stroke victim to the hospital within three hours of the attack, the prognosis for full recovery is optimistic.

First, some facts about strokes and who is mmost likely to suffer one.At least one person dies each minute from a stroke in the U.S. Of the 750,000 victims each year, one-third die, and another third suffer permanent paralysis, loss of speech or memory lapses.

Strokes are caused by a lot of factors, but a stroke occurs when the brain is deprived of blood due to a blockage in the carotid artery or a plaque particle breaking away from the walls of the carotid artety and lodging in the brain, depriving it of the blood it needs to nourish the body.

Who’s At Risk

Your chances of having a stroke are higher if you fall into these categories
1) Hereditary–If a person comes from a family where other members have suffered strokes.
2) Gender–Women are more likely to have a stroke than men.
3) Age–The chance of having a stroke approximately doubles for each decade of life after age 55.The incidence of stroke is higher among persons over 65, but younger people have them,too.
4) Race–African Americans are more likely to have one than are Caucasians.
5) Medical History–Sickle cell anemia. Sickled red blood cells are unable to carry as much oxygen to the rest of the body. They also can stick to the walls of the blood vessels, which can block arteries to the brain, causing a stroke.
Also, persons who have already had a stroke before or a TIA, a mini-stroke with no permanent damage,are much more likely to have another stroke.

Stroke Symptoms

You can tell if someone you’re with is having a stroke by asking them four simple questions

1.) Ask the individual to SMILE. If he’s having a stroke, his smile will be crooked.
2.) Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)(i.e. Ann is a great homemaker. If the person is having a stroke, he will find this difficult to do.
3.See if the person can raise both arms over his head. He’ll only be able to raise one.
4.Ask the person to stick out his or her tongue. If the victim’s tongue looks crooked or doesn’t stick out straight, the odds are that a stroke has happened to him.
If any of these tasks were a prblem to complete, it’s time to get to the hospital immediately. Start with 911 and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

Additional signs of a TIA, or mini-stroke, include a feeling that one leg or arm is heavier than the other and walking or climbing stairs is difficult.The victim might trip when climbing the stairs because one leg didn’t clear a stair. The victim has trouble keeping his balance and might even fall down and struggle to stand up.

If you or the person you’re with has these signs, get to a hospital immediately as it’s a matter of life and death.You’ll go to the head of the line for immediate tests and treatment if necessary. And you dodged a bullet today! The odds are that you’ve survived and haven’t had any permanent damage to your brain.

But, remember, if this happens as I’ve described, you have been given a warning and need to take preventative measures to ensure you’ll live your full life.