Depending on the part of the brain affected by stroke, symptoms can vary, but that doesn’t mean that a stroke is difficult to recognize. There are actually specific symptoms you can look for. These symptoms can be easily remembered with the acronym BE FAST, which stands for:
Remember this acronym, and understand that one of the key things to consider when trying to recognize stroke symptoms is their sudden and unexpected onset. So if you or a loved one is experiencing a sudden loss of balance, dizziness, or trouble talking, don’t hesitate and call an ambulance.
This specific myth is somewhat rooted in science, but research hasn’t been able to demonstrate that taking vitamins can help prevent a stroke. The myth comes from the fact that stroke patients have elevated levels of homocysteine, a chemical that helps break down proteins in the body.
Homocysteine is typically dissolved by vitamin B6 and B12, so some people have suggested that taking high doses of vitamins could help keep homocysteine levels low. Unfortunately, experimental research shows that vitamin supplementation isn’t able to prevent stroke.
With all that being said, there are several helpful ways to prevent a stroke. The biggest thing is managing risk factors like heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Cutting off harmful habits like excessive alcohol consumption and smoking is also extremely effective.
Treatments of stroke exist, and they’re extremely effective too. Emergency treatment of an ischemic stroke, or the type that is caused by blood clots, is especially helpful, but it is the most effective when administered during the first 3 hours after the appearance of stroke symptoms. This treatment dissolves the clot either through medication or a surgical procedure. This is why it’s so important to take a suspected stroke patient to the emergency room as soon as possible.
Likewise, there are a number of procedures that stop hemorrhagic strokes too. The goal of all these treatments is to restore blood flow to the brain and save as much of the damaged brain tissue as possible. Physical therapy is also very helpful for stroke recovery.
Related Article: 7 Recovery Exercises For Stroke Survivors
A transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known as a ministroke, and an ischemic stroke are two sides of the same coin. The only real difference between a ministroke and a full-blown stroke is time. During a ministroke, the blockage of the blood vessel in the brain is brief enough that it doesn’t cause lasting damage to the brain tissue. In a stroke, blood flow is cut off long enough for such damage to occur.
Now, the term ‘ministroke’ may make you believe that the condition is not serious, but this is not the case. In fact, experts say that a ministroke should always be treated as a stroke because only a doctor can distinguish between the two conditions. Furthermore, a TIA is often a sign of an imminent stroke. So make sure to seek emergency health services immediately if you’ve experienced the warning signs of a stroke.
Stroke is an extremely serious and often deadly health emergency. Experts point out that stroke is a leading cause of prolonged disability. Still, that doesn’t mean that everyone who has had a stroke will experience weakness or paralysis. The severity of the long-term effects will depend on the extent to which the brain was damaged and the specific area of the brain affected by stroke.
Damage to the left hemisphere may result in paralysis and weakness of the right side of the face and body, memory problems, speech problems, etc. When the right brain hemisphere has been affected, paralysis and weakness can be observed in the left side of the face and body, and memory and vision issues. These symptoms may persist, or go away over time.
Stroke recovery is a very complicated subject. While most research suggests that patients see the greatest mobility rehabilitation effects within the 2-3 month mark after the stroke, gradual recovery persists for many more months or even years. This is because it takes a long time for neural connections to be restored.
What about the expected extent of recovery? The American Stroke Association lists the following statistics:
All in all, the outlook of stroke patients is getting better every year. But remember that a timely diagnosis and quick treatment are key to full recovery.
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