Anyone, anytime, without warning, can have a stroke. It can strike a person at home, at work or during a family function. Every minute in a stroke is important, as the cells in the brain begin to suffer damage when there is a loss of blood supply. Quickly reaching the hospital increases the chances of recovery. It is important to recognize the signs of stroke and act fast to save a life and minimize permanent disability. This blog provides information on what to look for and what to do.
What Is a Stroke?
The stroke occurs when blood stops flowing to part of the brain or a blood vessel in the brain bursts. The majority of strokes are due to a blockage, or clot, blocking blood flow to the brain. In other cases, a blood vessel leaks, leading to bleeding in the brain. In either case, the brain cells are deprived of adequate oxygen and they start dying. That’s what makes a stroke a medical emergency.
Common Stroke Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of a stroke will typically come on quickly. One side of the body, the face, arm or leg may feel weak or numb. The face may sag and the smile may be uneven. Speech can become slurred or the person can have difficulty speaking or comprehending others. Other symptoms include any sudden vision loss or blindness in one or both eyes, imbalance, dizziness, difficulty walking and a sudden, very severe headache. Keep in mind that they can sometimes be present without pain and people could mistake this for tiredness and ignore it.
The BE FAST Test
The BE FAST check is an easy-to-remember way to recognize a stroke:The BE FAST check is an easy-to-remember way to recognize a stroke: B stands for balance: person feels dizzier or loss of balance standing up? E for eyes – Does it suddenly become difficult to see? F – Face: Have the person smile and check to see if one side droops. A = Arms: get them to put both arms up and see if one one floats down. S: Speech – try repeating a simple statement and listen for unusual or slurred words. T is for time – if you notice any of these signs, seek help now. Take action at any hint.
In the first few minutes, what should you do?
The first few minutes matter a great deal and you must be calm and rapid. Immediately call an ambulance. The 108/112 numbers are the emergency numbers in India. Avoid waiting and seeing if the signs will pass. Second, record when these symptoms started, or when the person was last seen normal. This is important for doctors to determine when deciding what treatment is safe. Third, assist the person to safely sit or lie down with the head slightly elevated. Turn them to one side if they are feeling unwell and if they are vomiting. Fourth, remove tight-fitting clothing and keep them off until assistance is received.
What Not to Do?
Some of the common household practices can cause more harm. Never feed the person food, water or medicine by mouth as they might choke or their swallowing may be weak. Never administer aspirin or any other blood thinner without consulting a doctor as bleeding is a cause of stroke and can aggravate the situation. Avoid letting the person go to sleep because you hope they will feel better when they wake up. Don’t put off or resort to home remedies. Also, try not to drive the person yourself in heavy traffic if an ambulance arrives sooner because trained personnel can begin his care en route.
What makes time so important?
The golden hour is mentioned frequently in the field of stroke treatment. The sooner treatment is started, the more brain can be saved. If the clot is responsible for the pain, a medicine is available to dissolve the clot, but only in the first few hours after the onset of symptoms. In some instances, the removal of the clot may be beneficial even later than this. That is why it is crucial to get to a hospital where an emergency and stroke team is prepared. Each minute counts and will lead to extra brain damage.
Mini Stroke: A Warning Not to Ignore
In some cases the symptoms will appear and disappear in minutes. That’s known as a mini stroke and occurs when blood to the brain is cut off for a brief period of time. While the symptoms are gone, it’s a warning sign that a larger stroke may be to follow. If someone has suffered a mini stroke, they should get medical attention as soon as they can, even if they feel better at present.
Understand, what makes you at risk
A large number of strokes can be avoided by controlling health at a young age. Stroke risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, heavy alcohol use, being overweight, an uneven heartbeat, lack of exercise and a family history of stroke. The most common cause is high blood pressure, so check regularly. Reducing salt and oily foods, getting regular exercise, and quitting smoking and following your medications as directed can significantly reduce your risk.
Time matters for stroke survivors
Treatment for stroke will vary depending on the stroke type. It can encompass medications designed to break up a clot, methods to unclog a blocked blood vessel or treatment to manage bleeding. Post-emergency recovery involves physiotherapy, speech therapy and family support. The treatment and rehabilitation is effective when it begins early and is regular.
Conclusion
At Criticare Hospital, our emergency/critical care team is alert to response and ready to move quickly when there is a suspicion of stroke. In Lucknow, when it comes to stroke treatment, it’s about swift action and the right places. You can also seek long term guidance and prevention from Lucknow neurologist. When a warning sign is exhibited, by you or a family member, don’t delay. Seeking help and getting to the hospital as quickly as possible.
