What to do first if you believe someone is suffering a stroke
Timing is crucial while suffering from a stroke. Make an emergency call and get straight to the hospital. A fall might occur as a consequence of a stroke that causes loss of balance or unconsciousness.
Take the following actions if you believe you or someone around may be experiencing a stroke:
- Make an emergency service call. If you are experiencing stroke symptoms, ask someone else to call. While you wait for emergency assistance, maintain as much calm as you can.
- Make sure they are in a secure, comfortable posture if you are attending to someone else who is experiencing a stroke. This should ideally be done with the person’s head slightly lifted and supported in case they throw up.
- Make sure they are breathing by checking. Give CPR if they aren’t breathing. If they are experiencing trouble breathing, take off any ties, scarves, or other restrictive items.
- Speak in a soothing, calm tone.
- To keep them warm, wrap them with a blanket.
- Give them no food nor drink.
- Avoid moving the individual if they exhibit any limb weakness.
- Keep a close eye on the individual to spot any changes in their health. Be ready to describe their symptoms and when they first appeared to the emergency operator. Mention if the individual fell or struck their head.
Remember the Signs of a Stroke.
The degree of the symptoms will depend on how serious the stroke was. You need to be aware of what to look out for before you can assist. Use the FAST acronym, which stands for: to look for stroke warning symptoms.
Face: Does the face have a droop on one side or is it numb?
Arm: Do you have numbness or a weaker arm than the other? When attempting to elevate both arms, does one arm remain lower than the other?
Speech: Does it have a slur or sound jumbled?
Time: If you selected yes to any of the questions above, you need to contact emergency services right now.
Other signs of a stroke include:
- loss of vision, particularly in one eye, or vision that is dull or blurry
- body tingling, numbness, or weakness on one side
- nausea
- a lack of bowel or bladder control
- headache
- feeling unsteady or lightheaded
- loss of awareness or balance
Avoid waiting it out if you or someone else develops stroke symptoms. Take symptoms carefully, even if they are minor or go quickly. Brain cells begin to die in only a few minutes. According to recommendations from the American Heart Association (AHA) and American Stroke Association, the risk of impairment lowers if clot-busting medications are provided within 4.5 hoursTrusted Source (ASA). Additionally, according to these recommendations, mechanical clot removals may be carried out up to 24 hours following the onset of stroke symptoms.
Causes of stroke
This happens when the brain’s blood supply is cut off or when there is a brain hemorrhage.
An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks the arteries leading to the brain. Plaque accumulation in your arteries is a common contributor to the ischemic type. The term “thrombotic stroke” refers to a brain clot that develops inside an artery. The embolic type may be brought on by clots that originate elsewhere in your body and go to your brain.
When a blood artery in the brain rupture and bleeds, it causes a hemorrhagic stroke.
It might be challenging to diagnose a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or mini-stroke based just on symptoms. It happens quickly. The majority of symptoms persist for less than five minutes and go entirely within 24 hours. Temporary obstruction of blood flow to the brain is what causes TIAs. It’s a warning indication of a potential worsening stroke.
The Healing Process
The healing process differs after first aid and medical attention. It depends on a variety of variables, including the individual’s overall health and how quickly they got treatment.
Acute care is the term for the first phase of recovery. It happens in a medical facility. Your condition is being evaluated, stabilized, and treated at this point. Someone who has had this often needs to remain in the hospital for up to a week. However, the road to rehabilitation generally doesn’t end there.
Typically, the next phase of recovery is rehabilitation. It could occur in a medical facility or an inpatient treatment facility. Rehab may be outpatient if stroke effects are not severe.
The aims of therapy are:
- Improve motor skills.
- Enhance mobility
- Limiting the use of the unaffected limb will help the afflicted limb move more freely.
- Range-of-motion treatment may be used to relieve muscular tension.
What The Caregiver(s) Should Know
Your work may be difficult if you are a survivor’s caretaker. However, being prepared and having a support system might make it easier to handle. You’ll have to explain the cause to the medical staff at the hospital. You should also talk about available therapies and ways to avoid more strokes.
Some of your caring duties throughout the healing process could be:
- Assessing treatment options
- Coordinating transportation to rehab and medical appointments
- Weighing the pros and cons of nursing homes, assisted living, and adult day care
- Coordinating home health care
- Controlling the patient’s financial and legal requirements
- Balancing nutritional requirements and prescription drugs
- Modifying the house to increase mobility
An individual who has had a stroke may continue to have speech, movement, and cognitive challenges after being discharged from the hospital. They could also be bedridden, restricted to a tiny space, or be incontinent. As their caretaker, you may need to assist them with everyday activities like eating and conversing, as well as personal hygiene.
In all of this, remember to take care of yourself. If you’re sick or stressed out, you can’t take care of your loved one. Use frequent respite care, and ask friends and family for assistance when you need it. Try to eat a balanced diet and obtain a full night’s sleep every night. Exercise often. Get in touch with your doctor for assistance if you feel stressed out or sad.
Expected Outcome
A survivor’s future is difficult to predict since it relies on a variety of factors. Don’t hesitate to seek emergency assistance at the first indication of a stroke, since how fast this is treated is crucial. Blood clots, diabetes, and other illnesses like heart disease may make recovering after a stroke more difficult and time-consuming. The rehabilitation procedure must be completed in order to restore mobility, motor abilities, and regular speech. As with any major illness, recovery will be greatly aided by having a good outlook and a strong support network.
