subject: How To Watch For The Warning Signs Of A Stroke [print this page] It is an established fact of medicine that the longer the period of time that has elapsed between the onset of symptoms and the beginning of treatment for a stroke, the less likely it is that one will make a full recovery from this incident. Therefore it is important that one be aware of the signs that are strongly suggestive that one might be suffering a stroke. From what Houston Home Care, and many other home care agencies, has noticed, the most common signs that one may be having a stroke include:
An abrupt onset of weakness and/or numbness in arms or legs, particularly if such weakness/numbness is limited to one side of the body;
Abrupt, painless, loss of vision or difficulty focusing that is limited to one eye;
Abrupt onset of a headache that gets progressively worse or does not improve over time;
Difficulty speaking and/or swallowing
Difficulty standing, walking, or maintaining balance
In addition to the above-mentioned signs of stroke, a number of medical conditions are associated with an increased chance that one might be suffering a stroke. At Houston Cancer Care we make it a priority to inform all our clients with the necessities of stroke prevention and care. Conditions that increase the likelihood of stroke that individuals should be aware of include but, again, are certainly not limited to:
Previous stroke, regardless of ones degree of recovery from that event;
A previous heart attack;
Heart surgery, arterial surgery, or angioplasty of the heart or leg arteries;
Known disease involving heart valves;
Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) in the blood vessels of the abdomen or legs;
Diabetes;
Hypertension (high blood pressure), and
Smoking
As mentioned above by Houston Stoke Care, the elapsed time between the onset of symptoms and the beginning of emergency medical care has a direct bearing on ones potential for recovery following a stroke. This principle is so well-recognized that many hospital Emergency Rooms have established stroke protocols which dictate standing orders to assure that stroke victims will receive emergency care that will maximize the potential for recovery.
The first step in treating any stroke is, of course, to recognize when a stroke is occurring. Since you are the individual that is best-qualified to recognize that something out of the ordinary is affecting your body, it is vital that you be aware of the symptoms of a stroke. Many Houston Home health Care caregivers advise their clients to be aware of their bodies and speak up when they think something might be wrong; the same cautionary advice applies to all.
Know the signs of a stroke! It's you who will reap the long-term benefits!
