Stroke is caused by the interruption of the blood supply to the brain; as a result, brain cells die because they lack the oxygen and nutrients to perform their functions normally. This disorder is the third leading cause of death in the US and UK and responsible for 10% of deaths worldwide. It's important to learn to recognize the signs of a stroke, especially if someone you know falls into a risk category. There are treatments to minimize the damage caused by this syndrome, but it is necessary to go to the hospital within an hour of the onset of symptoms.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Recognizing the Symptoms of Stroke
Step 1. Understand the difference between stroke and mini stroke
There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, caused by a thrombus in the brain, and hemorrhagic, due to ruptured blood vessels in the brain, causing blood loss. Hemorrhagic is rarer than ischemic and accounts for 20% of cases. If the patient is not treated as soon as possible, both types are serious and potentially fatal.
Mini-stroke, or more precisely transient ischemic attack (TIA), occurs when the brain receives less oxygen than normal and can last from a few minutes to a day. Many people who suffer from this form of stroke may not even realize it, but the mini stroke is a warning sign that it can turn into a complete stroke; if someone is suffering from a mini stroke, they must receive prompt medical attention
Step 2. Look for two or more signs of the syndrome
Most people who have a stroke have two or more common symptoms, including:
- Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arms, or legs on one side of the body
- Sudden difficulty seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden walking problems, as well as dizziness and loss of balance;
- Sudden confusion and difficulty speaking or understanding someone who is speaking
- Rapid headache with no known cause.
Step 3. Take the F. A. S. T
. Those who are experiencing a stroke may not be able to describe or explain the symptoms; to find out if she is actually having this "brain attack", you can do a quick test, called F. A. S. T. (from the English acronym described below):
- F.ace (Face): Ask the patient to smile. Check to see if one side of your face slumps down or looks numb; his smile can be irregular or asymmetrical.
- TOrms (Arms): ask the victim to lift them both; if it fails or if one of the two tends to fall downwards, it could be a stroke.
- S.peech (Speech): ask a simple question, ask the patient his name or age; Pay attention if he mumbles when he answers or if he has difficulty formulating words.
- T.ime (Time): if the victim experiences any of these symptoms, you must call 118. You must also check the time in order to know when the first symptoms appeared and provide this information to the medical staff so that they can intervene in the best possible way.
Part 2 of 2: Getting Medical Care for a Stroke Victim
Step 1. Call the ambulance to request medical attention as soon as possible
When you have verified that it is indeed a stroke, you must act promptly and call 911. Inform the telephone operator that the person has had a stroke and ask for an ambulance to intervene immediately. It is a disorder that requires an emergency response, as the longer the brain is without blood flow, the more damage it suffers.
Step 2. Let the doctor carry out the necessary checks and tests
When the victim has reached the hospital, the doctor may ask questions, such as what happened and when did the first symptoms begin. Through these questions the doctor is able to understand if the patient can think clearly and how serious the stroke is; moreover, it can perform some tests to verify the reflexes, in addition to other tests including:
- Imaging tests: These provide a clear image of the victim's brain, such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, and help doctors determine whether the stroke was caused by a thrombus or a hemorrhage in the brain.
- Electrical tests: An electroencephalogram (EEG) is likely done to record the electrical impulses and sensory processes of the brain, as well as an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the electrical activity of the heart.
- Blood circulation test: This test highlights possible changes in cerebral blood flow that have occurred.
Step 3. Review the different treatment solutions with your doctor
Some strokes can be treated with a drug called t-PA (tissue plasminogen activator), which can dissolve blood clots that have blocked blood flow to the brain. However, the drug must be administered within three hours and the therapy must follow a precise protocol. It is extremely important that the victim reaches the hospital within one hour of the occurrence of the incident, to be examined and to receive appropriate treatment.
- A recent study by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes (NINDS) showed that some stroke victims who were treated with t-PA within the first three hours of starting symptoms were 30% more likely to recover. after three months without any disability or with a slight disability.
- If the patient cannot receive t-PA, the doctor prescribes an antiplatelet drug or anticoagulant to treat the transient ischemic attack.
- If you have a hemorrhagic stroke, your doctor may prescribe a medicine to lower blood pressure; he may also decide to stop any anticoagulant therapy the patient is on.
- In some cases, surgery is done.
