Transcript Melissa C.
Stroke By Melissa C. Stroke is a disease that affects the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor are needed to see this picture. Strokes occur when blood vessels burst in the brain, which cuts off oxygen. Stroke Symptoms The American Stroke Association says these are the warning signs of stroke: • Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination • Sudden, severe headache with no known cause Stroke risk factors Risks that you cannot control: Increasing age gender Race Family history of stroke Risks that can be controlled with Medical Treatment & Lifestyle Changes: High blood pressure Diabetes Cigarette smoking High blood cholestero Obesity Heart Disease Treatment Surgery, medications, hospital care and rehabilitation are all used to treat stroke patients. • When the carotid artery is blocked by plaque, surgery will remove the plaque. Medication • A drug named TPA is used to dissolve blood clots and restores blood flow to the brain. 89% of all strokes are caused by blood clots. Treatment cont. Rehabilitation • An important part of recovery, helping a patient return to living independently. The areas they work on in rehab. include: • Self-care skills like feeding, bathing, and dressing. • Mobility skills like walking and using a wheelchair. • Communication skills in speech therapy and language. • Social skills for interacting with people. Conclusion • Stroke killed over 159,000 people in 2007. • 29% of the people who suffer a stroke in a given year are under age 65. • 63,000 men die from stroke per year. • 98,000 women die from stroke per year. Dedication I chose this disease because my grandmother died from a stroke a few years ago. Sources for Stroke Report • Sky Aid: www.skyaid.org • American Heart Association: www.americanheart.org/statistics/05stroke.html • American Stroke Assoc.: www.strokeassociation.org/presenter.jhtml • Stroke- A Comprehensive Guide to Brain Attacks by Vladimir Hachinski; Firefly Books: 2002 • Stroke Sourcebook; Edited by Joyce b. Shannon: 2003