Despite being the fifth leading cause of death in America, studies show that few people actually know what stroke is. National Stroke Awareness Month aims to help the public understand and recognize a stroke so they can get the victim to the emergency room.
What Is Stroke?
A stroke occurs when there is not enough blood being carried to a certain area of the brain. The lack of blood prevents the area from receiving enough oxygen, which can permanently kill brain cells that are responsible for things like movement and speech. There are two different major types of strokes: hemorrhagic and ischemic. Hemorrhagic is the least common, but it is responsible for over 40 percent of stroke deaths. It is when a blood vessel bursts or leaks, creating pressure in the brain and damaging cells. Ischemic strokes are much more common. They consist of a blood clot in the body that blocks blood from reaching the brain.
How to Recognize Stroke
Understanding stroke signs and symptoms, and where your nearest hospital is, can help you get a victim to the emergency room before too much damage is done. All stroke symptoms are sudden, so if you notice one of these things, act quickly:
– Numbness in limbs and face, especially on one side of the body.
– Trouble speaking or understanding.
– Loss of vision in one or both eyes.
– A severe headache without an identifiable cause.
It is essential to take immediate action if you or someone you are with experiences these symptoms.
The first step of knowing what to do in the event of a stroke is doing research beforehand. Carthage Area Hospital provides various services including stroke treatment. In fact, we have a special telemedicine stroke program that allows our patients to receive stroke treatment immediately. Our providers teamed up with Upstate Medical Hospital so that patients can both remotely and locally receive treatment from specialists through the telemedicine program.
Recognizing a stroke and getting the victim to the emergency room can be the difference between life and death.