Quick Assesments Are Key When Faced With A Stroke
Posted on Mon, May 24, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Act F.A.S.T to Prevent Irreversible Damage from Stroke
(Overland Park, KS - May 13th, 2010) Hundreds of thousands of individuals across America will experience a stroke this year. Still, despite the fact that stroke is the third leading cause of death in America and the number one cause of adult disability, many remain uneducated as to its causes and methods for prevention. Even more alarming is the fact that many individuals fail to recognize a stroke when experiencing symptoms. American Companion Care understands the importance of Stroke Education. We encourage the general public to become more aware about stroke risk factors, methods for prevention and symptom recognition. American Companion Care knows that acting F.A.S.T is the key to reducing the side effects of a stroke.
May is Stroke Awareness Month. As part of a national public education movement American Companion Care encourages F.A.S.T thinking when you are unsure if a loved one has experienced a stroke.
Face- Ask the person to smile. Does one side of his face droop?
Arms- Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
Speech- Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Can he repeat the sentence correctly? Are his words slurred?
**If any of these answers are YES then...
Time is of essence! Call 911 right away or get to a hospital as fast as possible!
Quick Facts about Stroke
Symptoms of a stroke include...
- Sudden numbness or weakness of face, an arm, or a leg - especially on one side of the body.
- Confusion or trouble speaking and understanding.
- Trouble seeing from one or both eyes.
- Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
What is a stroke?
A stroke is the result of interrupted blood flow to an area of the brain and can cause brain damage. How a stroke patient is affected depends on where the stroke occurs in the brain and how much the brain is damaged. Some people recover completely from strokes, but more than 2/3 of survivors will have some type of disability. Abilities impacted usually include speech, movement, and memory.
How do you reduce your risk of a stroke?
According to the National Stroke Association (NSA), 80% of strokes are preventable through careful attention to these ten steps:
•· Check your blood pressure regularly.
•· Find out if you have atrial fibrillation (a type of irregular heartbeat).
•· Stop smoking.
•· Drink alcohol in moderation.
•· Know your cholesterol numbers.
•· Control diabetes.
•· Exercise.
•· Eat a lower sodium, lower fat diet.
•· Find out if you have circulation problems.
- Be aware of stroke symptoms.
Life after a stroke
There are ways to make life easier if your abilities are impacted due to stroke.
- Dressing can be made easier by selecting clothes with front fasteners and replacing buttons, zippers, and laces with Velcro closures. There are also several dressing aids available, such as long-handled shoe horns on Internet sites and in health supply stores.
- Special utensils such as flatware with built-up handles which are easier to grasp and rocker knives for cutting food with one hand can help people with physically-impaired arms and hands.
- Helpful bathroom devices include, among others, grab bars in shower or tub, raised toilet seat, tub bench, electric razor and toothbrush and flip-top toothpaste tube.
A stroke can be life-changing and life-altering, however, one can still have a great quality of life. A better name for stroke may be "brain attack." The affects of a stroke depend on the location of the brain attack. An important point to remember is that every stroke is different and thus, each stroke survivor must be treated individually based on their stroke outcome. While every stroke survivor has one thing in common -- obviously, they have suffered a stroke, they are still a unique person -- they have a name, a face, and a personality (and some personalities are more unique than others.)
A stroke may not only affect a person physically and cognitively , but also emotionally and financially as well. While the road to recovery depends on the individual, caregivers play a special and important role. There is so much information and knowledge about stroke now compared to the past Our hospitals are better equipped to deal with the acute care of stroke and start the individual on their road to recovery. Rehabilitation Centers continue that road and help the stroke survivor and bring them to the next level. However, that period after a rehab center, stroke survivors and their families find themselves asking the question: "What Now and What Next?" Fortunately, in Kansas City there is the American Stroke Foundation where stroke survivors can attend and continue on their recovery road. ASF is not a medical facility, but rather a Wellness Center for stroke survivors and their families. Stroke survivors can attend classes and activities to re-build their life. ASF is the only non-profit organization in the United States that is solely dedicated to working hands-on with stroke survivors to empower them to overcome the challenges from their stroke.
Need more information?
- Visit http://www.stroke.org/ or call 1-800-STROKES (1-800-787-6537).
- Subscribe FREE to Stroke Smart magazine at http://www.stroke.org/ to view the latest gears and gadgets.
- Join a stroke support group.
- Contact American Companion Care for information on recovering at home with help.
American Companion Care offers care for individuals who have suffered from a stroke as well as advice and guidance for friends and family who serve as caregivers. Despite a loss of certain abilities, those living with a stroke may still remain comfortable within their own home with the proper care and assistance.
We urge the public to become educated about strokes and offer ourselves as a helpful resource for all who wish to learn more about the disease.
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About American Companion Care
American Companion Care is proud of being recognized as Kansas City's most responsive in-home care agency and was founded in 2003. Our mission is to give the elderly the opportunity to stay as long as possible in their own homes with warm-hearted, caring companions. Further information can be found on http://www.americancompanioncare.com/.
Additional Resource:
National Stroke Association is the leading national non-profit organization devoting all of its efforts and resources to stroke. NSA provides the most up-to-date information on prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and support for stroke survivors and their families. For more information on NSA contact 1-800-STROKES or visit www.stroke.org.