| A stroke is the brain's equivalent of a heart | | | | think of any real health benefits to smoking. But |
| attack. It happens when the blood flow to the | | | | the bad effects are well-known. So stop! People |
| brain is suddenly disrupted. There are two main | | | | don't realise they have diabetes either as they |
| ways this happens, either the blood flow is | | | | seldom feel it. Get checked for it, and take the |
| suddenly blocked, eg. by a blood clot, or by a | | | | medication regularly. Maintain a sensible lifestyle of |
| sudden bleed in the brain. Either way, it is a | | | | eating in moderate amounts and exercising |
| medical emergency. Sometimes, there are | | | | regularly. |
| warning signs, where a person can have a very | | | | How is it treated? In the initial stages, drugs that |
| early stroke that is transient, and then recover. | | | | break down the blood clot can be used. If it is |
| These are called transient ischaemic attacks(or | | | | done in time, the blood flow can be restored to |
| TIAs). | | | | the affected part of the brain. It can only be |
| Many people fear they are having a stroke when | | | | done if the stroke is due to a block, not if it was |
| they suddenly feel very giddy. There are many | | | | caused by a bleed. The doctor needs to be |
| causes of giddiness. The form which causes the | | | | certain before treatment is initiated. A CT scan of |
| room to spin around, or make you feel unsteady, | | | | the brain may be done. |
| like you are on a boat, is called vertigo. Causes of | | | | Treatment after the initial stage is directed at |
| vertigo can be central ( the brain) or peripheral ( | | | | preventing further strokes, and rehabilitation. |
| the balance receptors in the ear). A sudden | | | | Treatment can include drugs to control blood |
| giddiness, loss of balance, or difficulty in | | | | pressure and diabetes, and drugs to keep the |
| coordination or walking can be a sign of a stroke. | | | | blood from clotting. In some cases, an irregular |
| Other symptoms include sudden numbness or | | | | heart beat can cause blood clots to go to the |
| weakness over one side of the face, arms or | | | | brain. For these cases, treatment of the heart |
| legs ( usually only one-sided, because of the way | | | | rhythm and drugs to keep the blood "thin" ( less |
| the blood is supplied to the brain), difficulty seeing | | | | likely to clot) are needed. Surgery is sometimes |
| in one or both eyes, sudden confusion, problems | | | | used if there are plaques in the carotid arteries ( |
| in speaking or understanding speech, and a very | | | | the large arteries that go from the heart to the |
| bad headache with no known previous cause. If | | | | brain, they are found in your neck) to remove |
| you or someone you know suddenly experiences | | | | the plaques. |
| these symptoms, it is best to seek medical | | | | Finally, rehabilitation is extremely important for a |
| advice quickly as stroke is an emergency. | | | | stroke patient. The intensity depends on how |
| What does a stroke do to you? Stroke damages | | | | severe the stroke was. Patients who have had |
| the brain, affecting the entire body . The resulting | | | | strokes are prone to depression, especially if they |
| disabilities can range from mild to severe . These | | | | have been left significantly disabled as a result. |
| include paralysis, problems with thinking, problems | | | | Physiotherapists work with patients to help them |
| with speaking, and emotional problems. | | | | sit up and walk . Occupational therapists help |
| Can anything be done? Yes! Most definitely. New | | | | patients to cope with activities of daily living, which |
| treatments are available that greatly reduce the | | | | they may have trouble with after a stroke. For |
| damage caused by a stroke. But you need to | | | | example, what used to be taken for granted like |
| arrive at the hospital within 60 minutes after | | | | feeding or bathing themselves may now be |
| symptoms start to prevent disability. | | | | affected. Modifications may need to be done to |
| Can we do anything to prevent a stroke? There | | | | the home environment to make it easier and |
| are certainly ways to reduce one's risk of having | | | | safer. Speech therapists may need to be involved |
| a stroke. The conditions that increase one's risk | | | | as well if the patient has difficulty in swallowing or |
| include: having high blood pressure, smoking, | | | | speaking. It is a long road and patients and their |
| diabetes and being overweight. So if you have | | | | families need a lot of support. |
| high blood pressure, take your medication | | | | In summary, it is important to be able to |
| regularly. If you don't, get checked for it regularly. | | | | recognise the signs and symptoms of a stroke as |
| Often, high blood pressure does not cause any | | | | early medical treatment can make a big |
| symptoms and people tend to forget to take | | | | difference. Prevention is better than cure. And |
| their medication, or give reasons for why their | | | | once a stroke has occured, it is important to |
| pressure is high that day eg. lack of sleep, stress | | | | prevent recurrent strokes. Rehabilitation is |
| etc. Whatever the reason, high blood pressure | | | | extremely important in contributing towards the |
| increases the risk of stroke. Don't smoke. I can't | | | | recovery of a patient after a stroke. |