Time is of the essence.
Its a clich attached to many situations, but none so important, as when a person is having a stroke. So, why is quick treatment so vital? Its because the treatment for the stroke type that accounts for the vast majority of all strokes can only be effective if given within a certain time frame. Just a few hours can make the difference between recovery or learning to walk and talk again - or death.
What is a Stroke?
One of the most common statements I have heard from people who did not come immediately to the hospital is, Well, doc, I went to bed because I thought I could sleep it off and I would feel better when I woke up.
You dont want to try and sleep off symptoms of stroke.
What makes a stroke such a serious condition? A stroke is an interruption of blood flow in the brain. When the blood supply is restricted or cut off, brain cells can die. The activities controlled by these cells, such as walking and talking, can be severely impeded.
There are two types of strokes. One is called a hemorrhagic stroke, which occurs when a weakened blood vessel ruptures and spills blood into brain tissue. The blood accumulates and compresses the surrounding brain tissue. Accounting for 13 percent of all strokes, it is treated with surgery or with less invasive, catheter-based procedures.
The other type, an ischemic stroke, accounts for the rest of all stroke cases. It occurs when an obstruction within a blood vessel impedes supplying blood to the brain. This can be combatted by an FDA-approved treatment that dissolves the clot and improves blood flow to the part of the brain being deprived. If given within three hours and up to 4.5 hours for certain patients of the first stroke symptoms, the persons chances of recovering from a stroke might improve. A significant number of stroke victims dont get to the hospital in time for this treatment, which is why its so important to identify stroke symptoms immediately.
Dont Ignore Symptoms
So, what are the stroke symptoms to look for so a person gets treated as quickly as possible?
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Act fast when stroke symptoms appear