About strokes and adult disability

Recognizing the symptoms of a stroke is very important, since the person having the stroke must get treatment and medication as soon as possible.

My brother-in-law Donny had a stroke a few years ago that has left him paralyzed on one side. He was at work at the time and as you will see in the following, had others been aware of stroke symptoms and had he received treatment within the time frame required he might have recovered from the stroke.

Strokes are one of the main causes of adult disability and the leading cause of death next to cancer and heart disease. Yet not too many people are aware of the risk factors, the symptoms and what to do if a person is having a stroke.

The following is a list of risk factors:

The risk is higher if a family member has had a stroke. As one gets older the risk of a stroke increases and can affect both men and women equally; however, women are more likely to die of a stroke.

Black people are more likely to be at risk, since they have a higher prevalence of high blood pressure and diabetes. However, no matter what nationality or race people with hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes are at risk for both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. This is because the two diseases mentioned usually weaken and damage blood vessels in the brain which leaves them susceptible to atherosclerosis and hemorrhage.

Being aware of health issues is also important since both the high levels of cholesterol and cigarette smoking contribute to plaque in the arteries and the nicotine also makes the heart work harder increasing both heart rate and blood pressure.

Recognizing the symptoms of a stroke is very important, since the person having the stroke must get treatment and medication as soon as possibe to improve his chances of survival and recovery. There is a three hour time frame during which time a patient must be admitted to a hospital or stroke center and to have a drug administered to him called a tissue plasminogen activator (nick-named “Clot buster”). This is a drug that can break-up a small clot that is causing an ischemic stroke.

No one person necessarily has the same symptoms after the stroke; their emotions are sometimes reversed, and others have memory and problem solving difficulties, such as the following:

1. Learning and remembering information
2. The need to be prompted to do the everyday tasks
3. Become lost and confused
4. Unable to problem solve
5. Short attention span

Despite some unexpected health emergencies that have hospitalized Donny since his stroke he does attend a rehab center several times a week where he receives treatments and is able to interact with others in recreational activities. He has even won cups for bowling. The one thing I admire about him is that he has not lost his sense of humor and positive outlook and he really is a great inspiration to others.