In continuing with our celebration of the heart and National Heart Month, our second in our series of heart healthy blogs deals with strokes.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA) women experience more strokes then men and one in five women will experience a stroke at some point in their life. First, let’s define a stroke and what happens.
A stroke occurs when a vessel in the brain ruptures or is blocked by a clot. This means there are 2 types of strokes, a blockage or Ischemic stroke, and a rupture or a Hemorrhagic stroke. There is a 3rd pre-stroke heart issue called a TIA or Transient Ischemic Attack. A TIA is often referred to as mini stroke. They are caused by a temporary blockage which does not result in an actual stroke at that moment; however approximately 15% of all real strokes occur after a TIA. According to the AHA, strokes are the number 3 cause of death among women and the number 4 cause of death in men; yet 80% of strokes are actually preventable.
The AHA devised an acronym to help you better determine the warning signs and symptoms of someone having a stroke. It’s called F.A.S.T. because the faster you recognize a stroke, the better your chances of survival and recovery. This acronym should be used to help you determine if someone is possibly having a stroke. It was also created to remind you that getting help FAST is best, which means calling for an ambulance as soon as possible. The AHA has found that only 1 in 3 stroke vicitims will come to the hospital in an ambulance, even though taking an ambulance allows for the fastest action possible.
Keeping this acronym in your mind can save a life!
Stroke Treatment
Needless to say, as the FAST acronym tells you, getting help fast is the key to having less damage or even saving a life. Those who have an Ischemic stroke, or blockage, can have from 3 to (in rare cases) 4 ½ hours to receive tPA treatment. This tPA treatment is the standard guideline used for early onset of those suffering acute Ischemic stroke symptoms as determined by the AHA.
Of course treatment is best performed in an emergency health care center or medical center. Once a stroke victim has been medically cleared for activity and therapy; working directly with a physical therapist can often bring a person close to their prior level of function with minimal affects from the stroke. How well a person recovers from a stroke is highly dependent upon the type of stroke, the length of time between the stroke and treatment, the location of the stroke, and the severity of the stroke.
Goals After a Stroke
The goal for anyone who has had a stroke is to regain independence, obtain a healthy lifestyle, and most of all obtain quality of life. Live Your Life Physical Therapy offers cutting edge physical therapy to maintain, restore and improve movement, health and activity through wellness and rehabilitative programs. We will come to you and provide a comprehensive evaluation. Using this assessment we can then create a customized therapy program that is right for you and your abilities; so you will be more inclined to a speedier and better recovery from the affects of a stroke. While you may never fully recover, our therapist will not only help you recover as well as possible but help you adjust to the new lifestyle you may have to lead. Many side effects of a stroke include having to learn how to cope with the loss of or need to adjust your abilities so that you can live life with quality and dignity. Live Your Life Physical Therapy helps you cope with the aftermath of the neurological impact of a stroke. We provide you and your family with the tools and the courage needed for recovery.
80% of Strokes Are Preventable
Read the statemnt above again. This means that YOU are in charge of your health and YOU can avoid a stroke with our help. Our next blog will talk about stroke prevention and how we can help.
As with any heart health, exercise is usually one of the major keys to having a healthier heart. Live Your Life Physical Therapy can actually come to your home to offer one-on-one 60 minute sessions to begin a healthy and active lifestyle. Exercise can begin at any age, with any ability and that’s what so great about utilizing LYLPT for your exercise plan. Lower your risk of a stroke by calling us today. We truly want you to LIVE Your Life!
Dedicated to Keeping You Healthy & Active,
Dr. Eva Norman
President & Founder
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Live Your Live Physical Therapy, LLC