Circle Pattern Circle Pattern Circle Pattern Circle Pattern Circle Pattern
News > Stroke Awareness Month

Stroke Awareness Month

Share This:

May is Stroke Awareness Month, and so we wanted to summarize a few key facts about stroke in one convenient spot!

Read on and spread the word – everyone should know stroke warning signs, the life-altering effects of stroke, and what kind of treatment stroke survivors can do to regain control of their lives!

What is a stroke?

  • An ischemic stroke occurs when a clot blocks a vessel in the brain, which prevents blood supply to any areas of the brain supplied by that vessel.
  • A hemorrhagic stroke, on the other hand, is when a vessel ruptures. Oddly enough, blood is poisonous to the brain, so if any parts of the brain are exposed to blood during a hemorrhage, those parts of the brain will be damaged.

What causes a stroke and how can I avoid it?

  • Many disorders, such as AVM, Moyamoya, and cardiovascular disease (just to name a few) can cause strokes.
  • Lifestyle risks include being overweight and inactive, overuse of alcohol, and use of illicit drugs.
  • Other medical risks include high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes, and sleep apnea.
  • What are the symptoms of a stroke?
  • Face drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven?
  • Arms weakness:  Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
  • Speech difficulty: Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?

Time to Call 9-1-1:

If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared.

Additional symptoms of a stroke include: trouble seeing in one or both eyes, trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination, or a sudden severe headache with no known cause.

What happens after a stroke?

  • Language (speaking and/or understanding; written and/or spoken)
  • Memory
  • Attention
  • Movement
  • Sensation
  • Swallowing
  • Emotion
  • Behavior
  • Judgment

*** This is different for everyone. You may have trouble with one, some, or all the ones listed above.

Regain Control of Your Life After a Stroke

• Therapy has been proven to help recovery. There are many available apps that individuals can use at home in addition to in-clinic therapy.

Related Blog Posts:

News
Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease
Thursday, 22 August 2024
Read More
News
Determining the Best Dementia Care Options
Tuesday, 13 August 2024
Read More
News
What Are the Different Types of Home Care?
Thursday, 01 August 2024
Read More

Call Us: (301) 909-8117