Did you know that half of all stroke victims don’t realize when they’re having a stroke?

Since they assume that the symptoms they’re experiencing will go away on their own, they typically wait three and a half hours before seeking medical treatment. This is dangerous because time is critical when treating stroke.

What makes it even trickier is that an overwhelming majority
of strokes are silent, which means they don’t have obvious
symptoms.

Silent strokes are dangerous and can cause brain damage that
leads to cognitive and memory problems.

Unfortunately, it’s difficult to know if you’ve had a silent
stroke without a brain scan or unless your doctor detects signs of
stroke-related brain damage.

Regarding strokes that do have noticeable symptoms, the good news is it’s pretty easy to tell when you’re having a stroke.

Know the Risk Factors

People with certain medical conditions, such as high blood
pressure, diabetes and heart disease, are at a higher risk of stroke.

Other risk factors include family history, smoking, being
overweight, lack of physical activity and use of certain painkillers such as
ibuprofen.

Finally, one’s risk of having a stroke increases as they age.

If you have one or more of the above risk factors, you can
control them by following a heart-healthy lifestyle. This simply means being
physically active, not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, eating healthy,
and managing stress.

Know the Symptoms           

There are generally two types of strokes: those that occur
when a clot cuts off blood supply to the brain, and those caused by bleeding in
the brain.

Unfortunately, about two-thirds of the people who suffer from either of these two types of strokes don’t fully recover and are left with some type of disability.

To increase your chances of being in the one third that makes a full recovery, you must act FAST.

FAST is an easily remembered acronym to help you quickly
recognize stroke symptoms.

F for face

If you’re at high risk for stroke and start feeling weak suddenly, find the nearest person or mirror and smile. If your smile is uneven or one side of your face is twitching uncontrollably, or you have trouble seeing out of one eye, go to the ER immediately.

A for arms

Raise both arms. If you experience any weakness, numbness or
‘pins and needles’ on one side, you might be having a stroke.

S for speech

If your speech is slurred or incomprehensible, it could be a
stroke.

T for time

Time is a very important factor in treating stroke. The time it takes you to get to the ER can literally be the difference between a full recovery and a lifetime of disability. Don’t drive yourself or wait for a friend or family member to take you. Call 911 to get the hospital as soon as possible and receive treatment en route.

Most stroke patients are unaware they had a stroke until after the fact. This leads to delays in seeking treatment, greatly reducing one’s chances of a full recovery.

To avoid this, remember the acronym FAST: face, arms, speech and time to recognize whether you or someone you’re near (it could even be a stranger), might be having a stroke.

The post Would You Know If You Had A Stroke? appeared first on Lifestyle.

A stroke occurs when a blood clot or fragmented blood vessel
blocks blood flow to the brain. It’s the fifth leading cause of death in
America, so it’s no wonder that most people know someone who’s had a stroke.

Post-stroke recovery is a slow and uncertain process. It begins as soon as the patient is stable, and takes anywhere from three months to two years. It requires patience and commitment since most stroke survivors experience long-term, physical, emotional and cognitive changes.

Paths to Recovery

Since stroke survivors are not all the same, recovery can take many different paths depending on the severity and location of the stroke, and also take longer than expected. It’s important for patients and their caregivers to remember this because it’s easy to get frustrated and impatient when progress seems too slow, especially after the first few months of rapid recovery.

Rehabilitation

Post-stroke rehabilitation is the most important part of recovery. It usually includes physical and occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and counseling, among other therapies.

Rehabilitation should begin as soon as possible to increase
the chances of recovering all physical and brain function that may have been damaged
by the stroke. Range of motion exercises, and standing and walking can begin at
the hospital with the doctor’s approval.

After leaving the hospital, patients either go to an
inpatient rehabilitation facility or return home. Returning home doesn’t mean they
no longer require rehabilitation. They should still visit an outpatient
rehabilitation center or opt for in-home visits.

After the first six weeks of recovery, the patient can usually
do rehab on their own or with the help of a caregiver using online videos as a
guide.

Therapy

A stroke is a life-changing event that
can change how someone feels about themselves, their responsibilities,
relationships and work. So it isn’t unusual for some stroke survivors to experience
depression and anxiety, which can interfere with rehabilitation and recovery.

Patients should speak to their doctor if they experience
sadness or extreme worry that lasts longer than two weeks. Depending on the
severity of the symptoms, the doctor may decide to prescribe medication,
therapy or both.

Most inpatient rehabilitation programs include therapy, but patients who opt to do rehab on their own might consider joining a support group or seeing a therapist.

Recovering from a stroke takes time and can’t be rushed. However, survivors can improve their chances of making significant progress in their recovery through rehabilitation and therapy.

The most important thing to remember regarding having a stroke, besides being a kind and patient caregiver, is that time is critical, so seek medical attention immediately to ensure the fullest recovery possible.

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