RECOGNIZING & RECOVERING FROM A STROKE – For Your Health
There are 765,000 strokes in the United States every year, which averages out to 1 every 40 seconds. Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States and the 5th leading cause of death. There are 7 million people in the United States over the age of 20 who are stroke survivors. These are very significant statistics.
A stoke occurs when there is an interruption in the flow of oxygen to the brain either by a blockage, such as a clot, or a bleeding vessel.
There are many risk factors to a stroke. Some inherent risks such as age, gender, race and family history we can’t control. Medical risks consist of atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. And lifestyle risks include unhealthy diet, smoking, obesity and alcohol and drug abuse. An amazing 80% of strokes are preventable if a person has recognized their risk factors and treats them appropriately.
Recognizing the symptoms of a stroke play a huge part in the success of recovery. Signs of a stroke can be sudden numbness or weakness in any limb of the body, unexpected confusion or trouble speaking, sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, difficulty walking accompanied by dizziness and loss of balance, or an abrupt severe headache with no known cause.
We are all familiar with The American Stroke Association’s acronym FAST. It is used to help detect and enhance responsiveness to stroke victim needs. The acronym stands for Facial drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties and Time to call emergency services. If any of these symptoms are noticed, call 911 immediately to seek treatment. If symptoms persist and the patient does not seek treatment, then their recovery is adversely affected.
There is a long list of effects that a stroke can have on a person following medical treatment. Stroke recovery that includes specialized therapy is very important to lessen the chance for long lasting disabilities.
For example, At Kingston Care Center of Fort Wayne, we provide a specialized stroke recovery program in collaboration with the local health care systems. Our commitment is to provide an interdisciplinary, comprehensive approach to stroke care. Kingston has an expert medical/clinical team and unmatched therapy utilizing specialized equipment that is key to the recovery process.
Stroke recovery at Kingston consists of physical, occupational, and speech therapy that is planned according to the specific patient needs. The program also consists of community re-integration which is an instrumental part of daily living skills and overseen by a licensed occupational therapist. Our licensed social worker also plays a key part in the program by making sure that the patient is prepared with the appropriate care and equipment when returning home from the rehabilitation stay.
People are affected by stoke every day and as stated above, recognizing the symptoms and seeking immediate treatment plays a key part in the recovery. Being proactive by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and keeping yourself informed of symptom recognition can help you prevent a stroke.
To learn more, please join us for a free Lunch and Learn about Recognizing and Recovering from a stroke. It will be held on Thursday, July 27 at Kingston Residence, 7515 Winchester Road from 11:30 – 1 p.m. RSVP to 415-7741 or cgarrison@kingstonhealthcare.com.
Writer of this article, Megan Martin, RT, Director of Admissions for Kingston Care Center, will be the presenter at the program.
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