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