Stroke: Know What To Do
Although
most people who suffer strokes are older, stroke can occur at any age.
Especially prone to stroke are people with unhealthy lifestyles-those
who smoke, stick to poor diets, and don't exercise. Stroke is also
associated
with people who suffer from obesity, high blood pressure, heart
disease, alcohol abuse, diabetes, or have a family history of stroke or
an abnormal heart
rhythm. African-Americans have a much higher
incidence of stroke, as well. In the United States, strokes are the most
common cause of disability and the third most common cause of death in
adults.
What Is Stroke?
Stroke
is caused by a lack of blood supply to a portion of the brain, which
causes that portion to die within just a few minutes. This lack of blood
supply, also known as ischemia, results in long-term neurological
effects because the cells in the brain do not regenerate.
The outcome of stroke depends on the person's age,
general health, the region of the brain affected by the stroke, the type
of stroke, and the extent of the brain damage. Common long-term effects
include difficulty speaking, poor memory, altered emotions, poor
recognition of previously familiar objects and people, amnesia,
deformities of the extremities, and difficulty with movement, including
weakness and paralysis. The weakness and paralysis often affect one side
of the body-usually opposite the stroke location. Some of the effects
can be permanent, while others may resolve with time and treatment.
What Are the Warning Signs of Stroke?
Sometimes
people experience a "pre-stroke"-a shortterm lack of blood supply to
the brain, also called a transient ischemic attack. The loss of blood
supply lasts from seconds to just a few minutes and does not result in
permanent damage. This condition is often a precursor to a full-scale
stroke, so any symptoms associated with it should be investigated
immediately.
What Should I Do If I Have Any of the Symptoms?
If you, your friend, or a family member is having any symptoms, seek medical care immediately:
•
Dial 911 or have someone take you or your friend to the nearest
emergency room. Do NOT let the person with the symptoms drive or stay
home.
• Try to remember the time of onset of your symptoms and what
symptoms you're having. This information will help the treating doctors
provide the best possible care for you.
Remember: The sooner you seek emergency medical
assistance, the better the chances of minimizing the damage from a
stroke. The person with the symptoms should seek medical care even if:
• Not all symptoms are present.
• The symptoms go away after a short time.
• He or she has the symptoms with no real pain.
• He or she denies the symptoms.
What Is the Treatment for Stroke?
There
are generally three separate stages of treatment for stroke:
prevention, therapy immediately after stroke, and post-stroke
rehabilitation. Stroke prevention is based on treating underlying risk
factors
(see tips below). Acute stroke therapies try to stop a stroke while it
is happening. These include anticoagulants that help break up or prevent
further formation of blood clots and efforts to support the person's
vital functions, such as breathing. Post-stroke rehabilitation helps
overcome some of the disabilities that result from the brain damage. For
most stroke patients, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and
speech therapy form the base of a rehabilitation program.
How Can I Reduce My Risk of a Stroke?
1. Stop smoking.
In some people, smoking cessation can reduce the risk of a stroke to
that of a non-smoker. Smoking causes damage to the blood vessels
throughout the body. Some of the chemicals in tobacco smoke take the
place of oxygen in the blood, increasing the likelihood of loss of blood
supply to the brain.
2. Eat a healthy diet. Eat only sensible portions of foods. Avoid foods high in saturated and trans fats.
3. Keep your blood pressure under control.
4. Get regular physical examinations and follow your doctor's orders.
Is There Risk of Stroke from Neck Manipulation?
Neck
manipulation is a remarkably safe procedure. Although some reports have
associated upper high velocity neck manipulation with a certain kind of
stroke, or vertebral artery dissection, there is not yet a clear
understanding of the connection. While we don't know the actual
incidence of stroke associated with high velocity upper neck
manipulation, the occurrence does appear to be rare, based upon the
clinical reports and scientific studies to date. The chiropractic
profession is
actively researching stroke and neck manipulation and available safe alternative conservative therapies.
It has also been suggested, for example, that sudden
severe upper-neck pain and/or headache, which may indicate a pre-stroke
condition, could cause someone to visit a doctor of chiropractic. In
addition, some regular everyday activities, such as stargazing, rapidly
turning the head while driving, and even having a shampoo in a hair
salon may cause aneurysm-a widening of an
artery resulting from the
weakening of the artery walls- of the neck arteries, resulting in
stroke. These events remain very difficult to predict.