One out of every three American adults has at least one of the primary for stroke: , , smoking habit, obesity, and diabetes.
As a caregiver, it is important to understand what a stroke is, what the symptoms are, how to manage after a loved one has suffered a stroke, as well as the .
While the depends on the individual, it can be helpful to understand the to prevent your loved one from suffering from one in the future.
A stroke or occurs in the brain when a carrying oxygen and nutrients or is blocked by a .
Strokes are also referred to as because with reduced to , the fails to receive the necessary oxygen and nutrients, and begin dying immediately.
Luckily, fatalities due to stroke have been declining, and more promising treatments are available today.
Strokes are severe and can lead to a coma or death without immediate treatment.
Therefore, learning about the three different and their symptoms is very important for recognizing the onset . In addition, it can help inform your research on moving forward.
Let’s review three common
is often caused by a condition called . describes a condition where cover the walls of the . This can lead to a , obstructing the to and leading to stroke.
While a can be prescribed to prevent from occurring, a thrombolytic ( ) or “Clot Buster” drug is often prescribed to break up the clot that is causing a and can help restore to the brain.
Unfortunately, can put your loved one at a of undergoing a , stroke, and other types of serious medical issues.
occur when , causing bleeding in the brain.
tend to be more fatal and more likely to cause long-term disability for survivors. These strokes can be further subdivided into intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).
If it’s suspected that your loved one has had a , talk to your loved one’s healthcare provider about scheduling a which will confirm they’ve had a . A can also identify whether your loved one has had an .
It's generally quicker than an MRI scan and can mean you're able to receive appropriate treatment sooner.
A (TIA), also known as a " ," is similar to an .
However, the that caused the TIA is usually temporary and clears up more quickly. If you or your loved one is showing , you should treat it as a and inform a health care professional immediately.
Now that you’ve reviewed the three different , let’s list common that can lead to stroke. If your loved one has any of the below, they may be at a .
Obesity & Lack Of Exercise
Excessive Alcohol or Drug Use
Age & Gender
Race & Ethnicity
History of prior stroke or (TIAs)
A stroke occurs when is impeded from reaching certain . Depending on what that controls, different effects will be seen in the .
brought on by stroke can cause both common and uncommon effects. Some of the more common
Paralysis on one
Memory loss or confusion
Anxiety and depression
Pseudo-bulbar affect (uncontrollable laughing or crying)
Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
Pain and heightened sensitivity
Problems with vision
Spasticity (muscles tightened)
Foot drop, claw toe, or hammertoe
Depending on the where the stroke has caused damage, other effects may occur.
In the case that a stroke affects the left hemisphere of your loved one’s brain, however, their language and communication skills may be directly affected.
If your loved one is experiencing one or several of the above-listed effects, communicate with your loved one’s health care provider to better understand .
While there isn’t a particular that diagnoses stroke, if your loved one gets hospitalized, their nurse or doctor at the hospital can perform to understand what caused their stroke symptoms.
In the meantime, try asking your loved one’s healthcare provider about what can help benefit your loved one moving forward. As their caregiver, you can play an important role in ensuring that your loved one gets the best treatment possible.
DISCLAIMER: ALL INFORMATION AND MATERIALS ON THIS WEBSITE ARE INTENDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.
The information on this website, including text, graphics, images, and other materials, is intended for informational purposes only. No material on this webpage or any other page on this website is meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For questions regarding medical conditions or the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions, always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare professional or physician. Do not delay seeking nor disregard professional medical advice because of the information on this website.
A Nurse Director at a large medical center in Boston, MA, who holds a Master’s in Nursing Leadership and Administration and an MBA in Healthcare Management.
Ready Set Care is creating a community to provide guidance for anyone caring for an aging loved one.
If you know someone that could benefit from our website, click the share icons below
or copy link below