Early Warning Signs of Stroke You Need to Know to Act Fast
A stroke is one of North America’s top five leading causes of death. Strokes can also cause lifelong complications such as brain damage or disability. To limit damage to the brain, it’s essential to act fast once a stroke begins. Stroke treatments work best when administered within the first three hours of the first symptom.
What is a stroke?
A stroke is brain damage caused by something that blocks the blood supply to the brain, such as a blood clot. This is called an ischemic stroke. Strokes can also occur when a blood vessel in the brain bursts and causes pressure on the brain. This is called a Hemorrhagic stroke.
Five Early Warning Signs for Strokes
- Numbness or weakness on one side of your body
- Confusion (such as difficulty with speaking or understanding others speak)
- Impaired vision
- Dizziness and loss of balance, leading to trouble walking
- Extreme headache with unknown cause
Call 911 right away if any of these symptoms occur.
Acting F.A.S.T.
If you suspect someone is having a stroke, use the following test to help you identify symptoms:
- Face drooping: Ask the person to smile and observe if the face droops to one side
- Arm weakness: Ask the person to raise their arms and observe if one arm goes downward
- Speech difficulty: Ask the person to repeat a sentence and observe if their words are jumbled or slurred
- Time: Call 911 as soon as you notice the person presenting any of these symptoms
It is essential to note the time that symptoms begin, as physicians will need this information to create a proper treatment plan.
How early do signs occur?
Although stroke symptoms can appear suddenly, there is still time to act fast. Some people report symptoms several days before a stroke has been reported in some people. As many as 43% of people that experienced a stroke report symptoms up to a week before their stroke. These symptoms include headaches, numbness and/or tingling.
Immediate treatments for strokes
Treatments at the hospital
- Ischemic strokes will be treated with a “clot-busting” drug within the first 3 hours of the first symptom of the stroke
- Hemorrhagic stroke will be treated with other medication or surgery to stop the bleeding and save brain tissue. Endovascular procedures are often done by repairing a weak or broken blood vessel.
Treatments during recovery
- Rehabilitation begins a day or two after a stroke and includes speech, physical and occupational therapy
What types of damage is caused by stroke?
Some injuries that may occur after a stroke may include:
- Paralysis
- Trouble with learning and memory
- Problem with speech formation and understanding
- Numbness in the body
- Pain in hands and feet
- Difficulty swallowing
- Bladder and bowel control problems
Speed Motion and Cognitive Recovery with Medical Devices Designed for Stroke Rehabilitation
At Rehabtronics we provide clinics and patients with medical devices that may help with the injuries a patient may experience after a stroke.
ReJoyce and ReGrasp will help patients suffering from various degrees of upper limb paralysis. ReJoyce will allow motor recovery for these patients, while ReGrasp will enable patients to regain their hand function using the rehabilitation glove with Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES). Both these devices Rehabtronics offers help to speed up mobility after suffering from a stroke!
ReTouch will help patients improve their learning and memory abilities as well as some motor recovery through the use of interactive rehabilitation games.
Contact us to learn more!
References
About Stroke. (2022, May 4). National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/about.htm
Early Warning Signs of Stroke. (n.d.). Vital Heart and Vein. https://vitalheartandvein.com/blog/early-warning-signs-stroke/
Stroke Signs and Symptoms. (2022, May 4). National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/signs_symptoms.htm
What Are the Early Warning Signs of a Stroke? (n.d.). The Medical Specialists. https://www.cardiacscreen.co.uk/what-are-the-early-warning-signs-of-a-stroke.php
Treat and Recover from Stroke. (2022, April 5). National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/treatments.htm
