Discover How You Can Transform the Lives of Stroke Patients
### Want to Help Stroke Patients?
Strokes are serious and affect over 700,000 Americans each year. A stroke happens when a blood clot or a broken blood vessel in the brain cuts off the oxygen supply. The longer the brain is without oxygen, the more damage it can suffer, making quick treatment incredibly important for recovery.
#### Types of Stroke
There are two main types of strokes: hemorrhagic and ischemic. Before treatment can begin, doctors need to determine which type of stroke the patient is experiencing.
– **Hemorrhagic Stroke:** This is caused by bleeding in the brain and requires a specific treatment approach.
– **Ischemic Stroke:** This occurs when a clot blocks an artery in the brain.
#### Recognizing the Symptoms
Strokes can happen suddenly and present several signs, including:
– Difficulty speaking
– Numbness or weakness on one side of the body
– Sudden dizziness
– Severe headache
– Blurred vision
– Loss of coordination or balance
If you notice these symptoms in someone, it’s crucial to get medical help immediately.
#### Remembering FAST
The FAST acronym can help you quickly identify if someone is having a stroke:
– **F**acial weakness: Ask the person to smile. If one side of the face droops, it could be a stroke.
– **A**rm weakness: Have them raise both arms. If one arm drifts downward, that’s a warning sign.
– **S**peech difficulty: Ask them to repeat a simple sentence. Slurred or strange speech could indicate a stroke.
– **T**ime to act: If any of these signs are present, call 911 right away.
#### Risk Factors
Several factors increase the risk of stroke:
– High blood pressure
– Heart disease
– High cholesterol
– Previous strokes
– Family history of strokes
– Age over 50
– Obesity
– Being male
#### Treatment and Management
Treatment depends on the type of stroke:
– **Hemorrhagic strokes** may require surgery to stop the bleeding or repair the damaged artery.
– **Ischemic strokes** are generally treated with medication to dissolve the clot.
Quick intervention is crucial; ideally, treatment should begin within three hours of the stroke’s onset.
#### Certifications to Help You Prepare
There are various online courses and certifications you can take to be prepared to help someone having a stroke:
– **Stroke Prehospital Care Online Course:** For anyone out of the hospital setting who wants to learn how to recognize and manage strokes.
– **Acute Stroke Online Course:** Designed for both hospital and non-hospital professionals. This course meets JCAHO standards and offers training on handling both types of strokes.
– **Essential Life Support (BLS):** Teaches CPR and how to use an AED.
– **Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS):** For professionals managing cardiac emergencies.
– **Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS):** Focuses on emergency care for children.
By taking these courses, you can be ready to help save a life, whether it’s someone you know or a stranger.
