Whenever we hear the word stroke we picturize an elderly person fainting and falling down. It is not a good thing, but as a fat we know that stroke is the third leading cause of death and a foremost cause of long-term disability in the world. As people age, they are more prone to cardiovascular and metabolic diseases which makes them more likely to experience a stroke. After the age of 60, for every 10 years the rate of stroke doubles itself. By identifying and modifying the risk factors in every individual we can avoid the possibilities of experiencing a stroke.

 

WHAT IS A STROKE?

 

A stroke is a medical emergency where a damage to the brain is caused by interrupting the flow of blood to the brain. As a result the brain cells will start to die within minutes without enough supply of oxygen and nutrients. There are two major types of strokes, they are ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke.

 

• Ischemic stroke is caused due to sudden blockage of arteries leading to the brain.

• Hemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding into the brain tissue due to the bursting of a blood vessel.

 

SIGNS OF STROKE IN SENIOR CITIZEN

 

• Severe headaches

• Lack of coordination

• Sudden vision problems in one or both eyes

• Numbness in face and limbs

• Finding difficult to communicate

 

Seeing these symptoms in elderly people is very critical, you should call an ambulance immediately when you see someone with those symptoms. Damages can be reduced as soon as they get treated, speed and time matters the most.

 

COMMON SYMPTOMS FOR ALL AGE GROUPS

 

    

 

• Getting hiccups out of nowhere

• Suddenly feeling nauseous

• Sudden chest pain

• Difficulty to breath

• Whole body weakens suddenly

 

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR TIMELY CARE?

 

It is a fact that a person loses 2 million nerve cells every minute they don’t get medical treatment when experiencing a stroke. These nerve cells are the core components of the brain, spinal cord and central nervous system losing them in large will lead to immediate death. Thus we should act as fast as we can, when a person is experiencing a stroke. There should be no time wasted in thinking. Immediate treatment results in a greater chance of recovery. There was a campaign held in 2009, stating Act FAST.

Where FAST is a abbreviation that stands for

 

    Face: Has their face fallen on one side? Can they smile?

    Arms: Can they raise both their arms and use them?

    Speech: Is their speech slurred? If you notice these things…

    Time: Then it is time to call an ambulance and carry on some first aids

 

DIAGNOSIS METHODS THAT WILL BE TAKEN AS SOON AS THE PATIENT REACHES THE HOSPITAL

 

    

 

• A physical examination where your doctor will check the functioning ability of your body and do a bp check-up.

• A blood test to check your blood sugar level and how fast your blood clots.

• A CT scan to know the areas of bleeding in your brain and its condition.

• MRI scan to spot the damaged brain tissues and to identify brain hemorrhages.

• Carotid ultrasound.

• Cerebral angiogram.

• Echocardiogram.

 

FIRST AID MEASURES TO BE PERFORMED

 

• Call an ambulance immediately.

• Note the time of first occurrence of the symptoms

• Perform a CPR if necessary.

• Do not let the person go to sleep.

• Do not give the patient food or drinks.

• Stay focused and take actions quickly.

 

    

 

TIPS FOR RECOVERY FROM STROKE

 

• Following a healthy diet and doing exercise regularly is a great way to strengthen your body.

• Alcohol and nicotine should be completely avoided as those chemicals affect your brain and nervous system directly.

 

    

 

• There are a lot of rehabilitation centres where they help the stroke victims to recover quickly.

• Speech therapists can work with the patients to help them restore their speech patterns.

 

Thus, through these information we can know how important it is to act timely and take care of affected people in order to get an effective recovery. Let us all make sure to follow the Act FAST method immediately when we come across an affected person and let us contribute for their recovery. If you find this content useful, please share this with your friends and family and help them be aware of the importance of timely care.

 

Author: Team 60plus India

 

Keywords: stroke, timely care, medical emergency, symptoms of stroke, first aid, headache, numbness, Act FAST.

 

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