Here I am in sunny south California this week. Not for vacation though, for training and education. I am here at the International Stroke Conference. An annual event sponsored by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association to teach healthcare professionals and to raise awareness of stroke.
Did you know that stroke is not a diagnosis? It is a group of illnesses - Ischemic Stroke (blockages in the arteries to the brain cause death of the tissues), Hemorrhagic Stroke (bleeding into the brain), Intracranial Hemorrhage (bleeding into the deep brain), Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (arterial bleeding into the brain), Transient Ischemic Attack (a warning sign for stroke) --- you get the idea. BUT, the signs and symptoms are the same:
- Sudden inability to speak or comprehend.
- Sudden loss of motor function, usually on one side.
- Sudden loss of vision in one, or both, eyes.
- Unexplained sudden, severe headache.
If you or anyone you know experiences ANY of these symptoms - GO TO THE HOSPITAL NOW!!!!
Stroke treatment is time sensitive! The longer you wait, the worse the outcome. TIME IS BRAIN!!! You cannot 'regrow' brain cells. You cannot retrieve those lost memories. You CAN relearn the skills - walking, brushing your teeth..... Did you know, Stroke is the 3rd leading cause of death in the US? Did you know that almost 800,000 people per year have a stroke?
Did you know that every 40 seconds someone has a stroke?
Did you know that 87% of all strokes are ischemic? That means most of the time - a blockage in the arteries of the brain cause the stroke - like when a heart attack happens.
Did you know that 13% of all strokes are hemorrhagic? And these are more likely to cause death?
Did you know that men are more likely to have a stroke, but women are more likely to DIE from it?
Did you know that stroke is the leading cause of acquired disability in America? Victims of stroke literally lose themselves.
Did you know that children can have a stroke? The incidence is about the same as for childhood brain tumors (1-3/100,000 per year). The symptoms are the same as for an adult. If you see a child having these symptoms - take them to the hospital and don't let the healthcare professionals put is off as a 'mimic' diagnosis. These kids need an immediate MRI to rule out the stroke. If it is not a stroke, wonderful! But don't give up until you get the MRI.
Let's talk about risk factors. Stroke has definite risk factors. All of the expected risk factors.
Diabetes automatically puts you at risk for stroke.
Diet - did you know that salt intake increases your risk of stroke? Even WITHOUT hypertension (high blood pressure). That really scares me because I have high blood pressure and my salt intake is high as well.
Activity - There is no actual study that supports that activity reduces the risk of stroke, but it will make you more healthy in general, and if you do have a stroke - you will regain more of your lost motor fuction.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IS THE NUMBER ONE MOST CONTROLLABLE RISK FACTOR! AND IS THE BIGGEST PREDICTOR OF STROKE. Did you know that blood pressure causes stroke? Seems a little obvious to me..... the pressure inside of the vessels MUST effect the end product (the brain).
Well, seems that I have been ranting for some time. (Must be missing the SO.)
I would guess that you might want to know why this is so important to me..... It is NOT because it is my job. I was passionate about stroke before I got this new job. You might be interested to know that my Great Grandmother had a disabling stroke. My Grandmother had a disabling stroke. My mother has had a stroke (luckily for her, she has had treatment and is still functional and only recently as retired). I don't want to have a stroke - but it seems to be in the cards for me (and for those of you reading this who are my family members........ YOUR'S TOO!)
I want the best, most perfect care possible when I have my stroke. I want the aspirin on admission: AFTER MY DYSPHAGIA SCREEN! I want the DVT prophylaxis on the FIRST DAY of my hospitalization. I want the ANTIPLATELET medication on DAY 1 --- not when pharmacy schedules it tomorrow. I want the low dose heparin TODAY! I want my simvastatin continued and I want to go home on it. I want the EKG to make sure I don't have A-Fib/Flutter. I want all the education that I need - because when a person is in a state of panic (and you can be sure that I will be) - the average level of understanding is about grade 3-4. I want definitive treatment.
I want you to FIX THE PROBLEM!
......... So I can return to work and remind you that there is another patient on your floor who wants the same things I did..... the best treatment possible. ------------ They want to go back to work too.
No comments:
Post a Comment