It can be devastating to lose the ability to communicate using the language you have always spoken.
Aphasia—the impairment of language that is a result of injury to the brain—is frustrating and difficult for the person experiencing it. They can lose the ability to find or form words, read, or write.
Read More
February has different implications for people. For children, it is Valentine's Day in school. For them, February means cutting out paper hearts and giving cards to friends in class. For others, it can mean one of the harshest months of winter. For them, February can feel brutally cold and unforgiving. For those living in places without brutal winters, February may feel just like any other month, but for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention February is American Heart Month.
Read More
Nearly 800,000 Americans have strokes every year, according to the Internet Stroke Center. Of these, more than 140,000 people die annually. In fact, stroke is the top cause of long-term disability in the U.S., and the third leading cause of death. While these numbers can be frightening, there's hope: the more quickly treatment occurs, the lower the risk of serious, long-term injury. This caregiver training information is valuable information for recognizing the signs of a stroke and understanding the need to act quickly to minimize damage.
Educating yourself about stroke symptoms can lead to a brighter future for stroke victims. Scroll down for free helpful videos you can view today.
What is a Stroke?
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is suddenly interrupted. The majority of strokes are ischemic, which means they are caused by an abrupt arterial blockage. Hemorrhagic strokes, meanwhile, occur when a blood vessel bursts causing bleeding in the brain.
The effects of a stroke vary depending on the location and severity of the injury, and damage may be either temporary or permanent.
Warning Signs
Vigilant caregivers can help promote optimal outcomes by quickly identifying symptoms in order to hasten treatment. Warning signs include:
By: Joey Rosenberg, a content writer for Drugwatch.com.
With medical science advancing in leaps and bounds, the average human lifespan continues to grow at an equally astonishing rate. But with more and more individuals enjoying a high quality of life well into their 80s and 90s, the number of elderly people at risk for stroke is rapidly growing as well.
Age is by far the most important risk factor for stroke. For every decade a person lives after the age of 55, the rate of stroke more than doubles. This goes for both men and women alike. The good news is studies have shown that up to 80 percent of strokes can be prevented by working with a health care professional to reduce your risk.
The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from stroke is to understand its risk factors and the steps you can take to manage them.
Controllable Risk Factors
While risk factors like age, gender, race and family history are beyond your control, you can work with your doctor to manage other medical conditions and lessen your chances of suffering a stroke.
Controllable risk factors for stroke include:
