Acute cerebrovascular accident, which leads to permanent damage to a part of the brain, can be hemorrhagic or ischemic type and most often manifests itself suddenly. What to do if you suspect a stroke? To refute or confirm the diagnosis, the patient is given a CT scan of the brain. If the hemorrhagic variety is not detected, then the patient is referred for an MRI, since in ischemia this type of hardware study is more informative. It is important to clearly diagnose the type of violation, since the tactics of further treatment will depend on this. If necessary, angiography, ultrasound of the vessels of the brain and other types of studies, including laboratory ones, are carried out.
At a Glance
A pathological condition that occurs in the cellular tissue of the brain due to a failure of blood flow is a stroke. As a result, nerve cells die, whichmanifested by neurological symptoms. What to do if a person has a stroke? The sooner highly qualified assistance is provided, the higher the chances of survival and a fulfilling life. Stroke can be ischemic (blockage of blood vessels) and hemorrhagic (rupture of blood vessels). In the first case, this is no more than six hours, when pharmacotherapy can stop ischemic necrosis of neurons and irreversible destructive processes for the brain. The latter requires an immediate response. It is necessary to deliver the victim to an institution of a stationary type as soon as possible.
First suspicions
Let's consider the first signs of a stroke and what to do to make sure of them. He alth professionals recommend looking out for symptoms such as:
- sharp deterioration of vision;
- dizziness;
- skewed or numb face;
- numbness or weakness in lower and upper limbs on one side;
- loss of ability to speak;
- loss of reading and writing skills.
To confirm suspicions of a circulatory disorder, ask the victim to take a test and carefully observe how he will perform the following actions: try to smile, stretch out both hands and hold for a few seconds, say "thirty-three." If even one task is not completed, you should immediately call a specialized neurological team by calling 103 or 03.
While the ambulance is coming, what to do at home?
With a stroke beforethe moment the medics arrive, it is recommended:
- Give the individual a horizontal position by laying him on high pillows. If the patient has an epileptic seizure, then it cannot be tolerated.
- If possible, release from tight clothing - remove the tight belt, belt, unfasten the collar. Open a vent or window for air flow.
- Measure the pressure, with high rates, the patient must take the medicine that he uses constantly. If in doubt, do not give the drug, but lower the lower limbs into hot water.
- In case of short-term loss of consciousness, accompanied by convulsions, turn the individual to one side, placing a pillow or roller under his head. It is imperative to hold the head with your hands and constantly remove the foam that is released from the mouth, preventing it from entering the respiratory tract. Insert a stick or a spoon wrapped in a cloth between the teeth so that the patient does not bite the tongue during a seizure.
If you have a stroke, you now know what to do before the arrival of medical workers. In addition, it is important not to use vasodilating drugs in the acute period of cerebrovascular accident - "Drotaverine", "Nicotinic acid". Their action is aimed at expanding blood vessels in intact areas of the brain, which exacerbates oxygen starvation in the affected vessels.
Signs of an impending stroke
In order to know what to do at the first signs of a stroke, it is necessary to recognize its approach in time. Harbingers of the disease make themselves felt long before its onset. The following are the symptoms,that appear periodically and then disappear without a trace:
- An individual in motion and in balance loses coordination, as well as a landmark around him.
- Dizziness - occurs suddenly due to lack of blood in the brain.
- Severe sudden headache - usually preceded by stress or excessive physical activity.
- Initially, there is weakness in one of the parts of the body, turning into numbness. It affects the left or right half of the torso.
- Visual acuity suddenly deteriorates in one or both eyes.
- Stiffness of facial expressions, impaired speech.
At risk are hypertensive patients, individuals diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, heart and vascular diseases, high cholesterol, and overweight.
The difference between stroke in women and men
In order to know what to do with signs of a stroke, it is advisable to have information about the difference between this disease in different sexes. It was previously thought that this disease affects individuals over the age of sixty years. However, men over forty are already at risk. In recent decades, stroke in women is diagnosed more often, and at the age of eighteen to forty years, in contrast to the opposite sex. The likelihood of cerebrovascular accident is higher in expectant mothers. This phenomenon is due to the fact that young people often ignore the first symptoms, as they quickly pass, and do not turn to specialists. It has been proven that the formerAfter suffering an illness, a minority of women return to the rhythm of life. Early symptoms, especially atypical for this pathology, differ in women and men. The chance of having a stroke increases by about twenty-two percent in women over the age of thirty who smoke and who take hormonal contraceptives. Moreover, taking oral contraceptives provokes severe ischemic stroke.
Unbalanced persons, as well as those who constantly fixate on any problems, are more prone to failure of cerebral circulation. Possession of this information will allow not to overlook the onset of the disease and promptly turn to specialists for help.
Atypical signs of a stroke
In order not to get confused and know what to do if a person has a stroke, let's get acquainted with his atypical clinic:
- chest pain;
- dry mouth;
- increased heartbeat;
- headache;
- sharp pain in one half of the face or body;
- breathing difficulties;
- shortness of breath;
- hiccup;
- weakness;
- disorientation;
- nausea;
- confusion.
Often this picture is observed at the very beginning of the disease, in connection with which the diagnosis of a stroke is difficult, and the help of doctors is late.
In addition, the symptoms in both sexes depend on the affected part of the brain: in the left - signs are observed in the right half of the body and vice versa, if in the right - then changestouch the organs located on the left.
In the acute stage of the disease, about thirty percent of individuals die, more than half of those who fall ill die within the first year, ten percent become disabled, and only twenty percent return to normal life. Here are some disappointing statistics.
First aid for stroke. What to do?
The effectiveness of therapy depends on how quickly the diagnosis is made and the necessary treatment is prescribed. Often, people who are far from medicine are near the victim, and the insidiousness of the disease lies in its rapid development. The best help is to call specialists by calling the ambulance dispatcher and try to clearly describe the signs. I had a stroke, what should I do? First aid involves the following manipulations:
- Give the victim a semi-lying position, raising his shoulders and head. This posture reduces the risk of cerebral edema.
- Ensure free breathing by removing tight clothing, remove belt, belt or tie.
- No food, water or medicines.
- When vomiting, turn your head to one side, and after it ends, clean your mouth.
- If the individual has lost consciousness, but there are no problems with breathing, then turn him to the side so that the head lies on the arm and is slightly tilted forward. Bend the leg at a slight angle so that he cannot roll over.
- If the victim is not breathing, then artificial respiration and chest compressions can only be done by a trained person.
- On the arrival of the ambulancetell in detail and clearly what happened, since the patient's condition in the first minutes and hours is very important. The prognosis of the disease depends on this.
In case of a stroke, it is necessary to quickly deliver an individual to a medical facility. And timely assistance provided before the arrival of specialists from others may save the victim's life.
What does an ambulance do with a stroke? In this case, medical workers deliver the patient immediately to the diagnostic, bypassing the emergency department. This moment is very important in order not to miss precious time and to carry out adequate treatment in a timely manner.
Ischemic stroke therapy
Therapy consists of several stages. At pre-hospital care, assistance is provided until the arrival of the medical team. The patient is given a horizontal position and slightly raise his head, provide free breathing, carry out resuscitation (if necessary). The start of treatment should be carried out within the first six hours, as soon as in this case complications can be minimized. During this time, the focus of necrosis will not have time to form. Therefore, the patient should be taken to the hospital as soon as possible.
Hospital - basic and specific stroke treatment. What to do at this stage? During this period, the following manipulations are performed:
- temperature control;
- heart support;
- control of breathing functions;
- decrease in cerebral edema;
- normalization of water-electrolyte metabolism;
- preventionbedsores;
- measures aimed at preventing the occurrence of complications due to impaired mobility.
Using specific therapy, the cause of stroke is eliminated directly and neurons are restored:
- Thrombolysis - special medicines are administered that dissolve the blood clot. Such manipulation is effective only in the first six hours from the onset of the disease.
- Prevents the growth of blood clots and contributes to their prevention the use of anticoagulants. However, their use is prohibited in case of liver and kidney pathologies, gastric ulcer, uncontrolled hypertension, and also if the stroke has affected a large part of the middle cerebral artery.
- Neuroprotectors are used to inhibit the abnormal chain of neurochemical interactions.
Nootropics, amino acids and vasoactive agents are shown at the recovery stage. Mandatory massage, physiotherapy exercises. These activities contribute to the prevention of thrombosis, bedsores, as well as the restoration of motor skills.
In the rehabilitation departments of multidisciplinary he alth care institutions or in sanatoriums, in addition to taking medications, physiotherapy, mud therapy, massage, physiotherapy exercises are shown, i.e. intensive recovery after ischemic stroke is carried out at the rehabilitation stage.
What to do at the dispensary stage? This is an outpatient period, which involves regular monitoring by a neurologist, medication, constant exercise,physiotherapy courses. Thus, at this stage, measures are taken to eliminate the consequences of neurological disorders.
How to care for the sick?
What to do with a stroke at home? After a violation of cerebral circulation, individuals need care, both during the acute period of the disease, and at the stage of rehabilitation. In some cases, when the patient does not recover memory, speech, consciousness and motor functions, he will have to be cared for constantly.
Physical condition depends on the type of stroke. In the acute phase of the disease, patients are mostly immobilized, so care consists of preventive measures aimed at preventing the formation of blood clots, bedsores and congestive pneumonia. The individual should be turned every one hundred and twenty minutes from one side to the other. In addition, be sure to treat the dermis with special products, use diapers (if necessary) or absorbent diapers. It is advisable to purchase an anti-decubitus mattress for a patient after a stroke. What to do to prevent diaper rash? It is washed daily.
If a person's swallowing function is not impaired and he is conscious, then before feeding he is raised his head or given a semi-sitting position. In other cases, food is supplied through the probe. After eating, remove the remnants of food from the oral cavity. If the lips are dry, then they are regularly moistened with water. Be sure to monitor the stool, if necessary, use laxatives, for example, "Duphalac" ordo an enema.
Recovery at home
Rehabilitation is a rather long period that will require patience and hard work both from the individual and his relatives. All forces must be directed to the maximum recovery of the body after a stroke. What to do at home, how to help the sick? This question is often asked to the doctor. Recovery is carried out in several directions:
- Psychological - adaptation to new living conditions. The support of loved ones is very important. Especially when a person is not able to speak, write, read normally. In some cases, doctors recommend a course of treatment with antidepressants, as well as communication with a psychologist, both for the patient and relatives.
- Speech - classes with a speech therapist, i.e. the individual learns to speak, read and write again. These skills can fully recover or partially. The result depends on the degree of brain damage.
- Restoration of movements - a whole range of activities is used, including physiotherapy, physiotherapy exercises. The latter begins with passive gymnastics, that is, when a specialist or relative moves the limbs and body. After a certain time, the patient himself is allowed to perform movements. In addition, he is taught to walk, eat, wash, etc.
- Prevention of complications is massage, acupuncture and magnetotherapy, thermotherapy, fixing bandages on the joints and more.
The degree of recovery of lost functions depends not only on the severity of the disease, but also oncompetently provided first aid, comorbidities, age, as well as the rehabilitation period. After reading the article, you now know the first symptoms of a stroke and what to do when faced with such a problem.
