Stroke Risk: Sentencing Stress And Your Health

can you get a stroke from sentence

Strokes are a life-threatening medical emergency that occurs when there is an interruption in the blood supply to the brain, resulting in a lack of oxygen and nutrients. This can be caused by blocked or burst blood vessels, leading to brain cell death and potential permanent disability or death. Recognizing the signs of a stroke, such as facial drooping, arm weakness, and speech difficulties, is crucial as immediate medical attention is vital to improving survival and recovery rates.

Characteristics Values
Definition A stroke is your brain’s equivalent of a heart attack, happening when there’s an issue with blood flow to part of your brain.
Type There are two main types of strokes: ischemic and hemorrhagic.
Ischemic stroke This is the most common type of stroke, caused by a blocked artery or blood clot.
Hemorrhagic stroke This occurs when a blood vessel in your brain bursts, spilling blood into nearby tissues.
Risk factors High blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, smoking, birth control pills, high red blood cell count, excessive alcohol use, illegal drugs, abnormal heart rhythm, cardiac structural abnormalities, older age, race, gender, genetics, and history of prior stroke.
Symptoms Face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, sudden loss of vision, dizziness, nausea, severe headaches, confusion, seizures, fainting, and more.
Warning signs Use the acronyms F.A.S.T. or B.E.F.A.S.T. to spot warning signs: face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, time to call for help, sudden loss of balance or vision, etc.
Treatment Clot-busting medicines, blood pressure management, surgery (craniotomy), neuroprotective medicines, life support measures, and rehabilitation.
Prevention Stop smoking, healthy diet, physical activity, take prescribed medications, and control risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.

medshun

Face drooping

Facial drooping, or facial palsy, is a common symptom of a stroke. It occurs when the facial muscles are not working properly, causing a person's face to appear asymmetrical. The eyelids and corners of the mouth may be pulled down, and the person may be unable to smile or speak clearly. This can happen on one or both sides of the face.

Facial drooping is often a result of a stroke when blood flow to the brain is disrupted, either due to a clot or bleeding in the brain. This lack of oxygen-rich blood causes brain cells to die, leading to impaired communication between nerve cells.

If you suspect that you or someone else is experiencing a stroke, it is crucial to act quickly. Remember the acronym F.A.S.T. to identify the warning signs:

  • F: Face Drooping – Check if one side of the face is drooping or numb. Ask the person to smile; if their smile is uneven, it could be a sign of a stroke.
  • A: Arm Weakness – Check if one arm is weak or numb. Ask the person to raise both arms; if one arm drifts downward, it could be a sign of a stroke.
  • S: Speech Difficulty – Listen for slurred speech or difficulty in speaking or understanding speech.
  • T: Time to call 911 – Stroke is a medical emergency. Call for emergency assistance immediately. Note the time when the symptoms first appeared, as every minute counts in treating a stroke.

In addition to facial drooping, other signs and symptoms of a stroke include:

  • Numbness or weakness on one side of the body, including the face, arm, or leg.
  • Sudden confusion or difficulty understanding speech.
  • Sudden difficulty seeing in one or both eyes.
  • Sudden difficulty walking, loss of balance, or coordination problems.
  • A sudden, severe headache with no apparent cause.
  • Fatigue, nausea, or vomiting.
  • Blurred or changed vision.
  • Inability to lift one or both arms due to weakness or numbness.
  • Difficulty closing the eye or blinking on the affected side.
  • Mild pain near the ear.

If you or someone else is exhibiting any of these symptoms, don't wait; call for emergency medical assistance immediately.

medshun

Arm weakness

Isolated hand palsy, or "pseudoperipheral palsy", is a rare presentation of stroke, often mistaken for a peripheral lesion. It occurs when there is an infarction in the parietal lobe, affecting the motor control of the hand. This can result in fractional arm weakness, where the weakness of the hand differs from that of the shoulder.

In a stroke, the impact on the body can vary from mild to severe, and no two people will experience the same thing. Arm weakness can range from mild numbness to more severe paralysis. It is important to seek immediate medical attention if you suspect any signs of a stroke, as early treatment can minimize long-term effects and even prevent death.

medshun

Speech difficulty

There are many types of aphasia, including:

  • Broca’s aphasia (expressive aphasia): difficulty with spoken and written expression.
  • Anomic aphasia: difficulty with word retrieval, may demonstrate slow, halting speech.
  • Wernicke’s aphasia (receptive aphasia or fluent aphasia): difficulty understanding speech and trouble producing meaningful speech; the person is able to speak long, fluent sentences, but the words do not make sense.
  • Conduction aphasia: difficulty with repeating words or phrases.
  • Global aphasia: difficulties with both speech production and comprehension.

Other types of aphasia include transcortical sensory aphasia, transcortical motor aphasia, and mixed transcortical aphasia.

In addition to aphasia, a stroke can also cause dysarthria and apraxia of speech. Dysarthria is characterised by weakness or incoordination of the muscles involved with speech. This may cause individuals to slur their words or mumble. Apraxia of speech, on the other hand, is when the brain has difficulty telling the muscles how to move when speaking. Individuals with apraxia of speech know what they want to say, but they have trouble producing the desired sounds.

Treatment for communication problems after a stroke includes speech and language therapy, melodic intonation therapy, group therapy, and support groups. It is important to start rehab as soon as possible, and consistent practice is key for improvements.

medshun

Time to call emergency services

A stroke is a life-threatening medical emergency that requires immediate attention. Calling emergency services as soon as possible is crucial and can significantly impact the treatment options and chances of recovery. Here are some detailed instructions and guidelines on when and why to call emergency services if you or someone around you is exhibiting stroke symptoms:

  • Recognise the signs and symptoms of a stroke: Use the FAST acronym to help you identify the key signs. This includes observing for facial drooping or asymmetry, arm weakness, and speech difficulties. Other symptoms may include blurred or loss of vision, tingling or numbness, severe headache, loss of coordination, and difficulty breathing.
  • Act quickly and call emergency services: If you or someone else is exhibiting any of the symptoms mentioned above, don't hesitate to call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. Every minute counts when it comes to treating a stroke. The quicker the person receives medical attention, the higher the chances of recovery and preventing permanent disability or death.
  • Provide necessary information: When calling emergency services, be prepared to provide the address or location, especially if you're in a public place. Clearly state that you suspect a stroke and describe the symptoms you're observing. Mention when the symptoms started and any changes in the person's condition. If the person fell or hit their head, be sure to include that information as well.
  • Follow instructions from emergency services: After calling 911 or your local emergency number, follow any instructions provided by the operator. They may ask additional questions to better understand the situation and dispatch the appropriate emergency responders. Stay calm and provide short, essential information until help arrives.
  • Make the person comfortable: While waiting for emergency services to arrive, ensure the person exhibiting stroke symptoms is in a safe and comfortable position. If possible, lay them on their side with their head slightly raised and supported in case they need to vomit. Loosen any constrictive clothing and check their breathing. If they are unconscious, place them in the recovery position.
  • Do not give food or water: It may be difficult for the person experiencing a stroke to swallow, so refrain from giving them anything to eat or drink. Focus on keeping them comfortable and monitoring their condition until emergency services arrive.
  • Be aware of the time that has passed: Note the time when the symptoms started, as this information is crucial for medical professionals to determine the best course of treatment. Look at a clock or watch if possible, as it can be challenging to estimate time accurately during a stressful situation.
Heat Stroke: Rash or Reality?

You may want to see also

medshun

Loss of vision

Vision loss is a common occurrence after a stroke, with about 65% of stroke survivors reporting changes to their vision or vision loss. The stroke may have injured a part of the brain or affected the nerves and muscles around the eye. The occipital lobe and the brainstem are areas of the brain that, when affected, are more likely to cause vision problems. The occipital lobe is the "vision centre" of the brain, where visual processing takes place. The brainstem controls eye movement, balance, stability, and the ability to make sense of objects in the environment.

There are four main types of vision problems that can occur after a stroke:

  • Visual field loss: This is the most common type of vision loss after a stroke. It occurs when there are missing areas of vision, typically affecting the same side of the visual field in both eyes (homonymous visual field loss). Hemianopia, the loss of the left or right half of the visual field in both eyes, is the most frequent form. Scotoma, a less common type, is a small patch of vision loss often near the centre of vision.
  • Eye movement problems: These issues arise from damage to the fine nerve control of the muscles that move the eyes. This can include impaired eye movements, inability to move both eyes together (strabismus), constant eye movements (nystagmus), and impaired depth perception.
  • Visual processing problems: This type of problem is caused by the brain having difficulty processing visual information. It can manifest as visual inattention or neglect, where individuals are unaware of things on one side of their visual field, typically due to strokes on the right side of the brain.
  • Other sight problems: These can include light sensitivity, dry eyes, and visual hallucinations (Charles Bonnet syndrome).

It is important to have a person's vision checked after a stroke, even if they don't exhibit any symptoms. Some vision problems may improve in the first six months, and early intervention can be crucial for preventing further vision loss and enhancing restoration.

Frequently asked questions

Written by
Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment