Mom what's wrong? My arm... I'm gonna call 9-1-1. My mom, yes, she's having a hard
time moving her right arm we think she's having a stroke
thanks to a class rosie had taken she knew that sudden weakness and
numbness in her arm are signs of a stroke during evaluation paramedics may
ask if you are experiencing any other common stroke symptoms because Rosie is
a female and over 55 years old she is at a higher risk for stroke in general and
as a result has taken steps to manage her modifiable risk factors which are
diabetes and high blood pressure
now that Rosie is in the emergency room the stroke care team will go over her
medications and medical history identify the last time she was completely normal
review the assessment by EMS and perform a head-to-toe assessment including a
focused neurologic exam additional tests will be ordered to confirm how best to
proceed common tests include blood work and a CT scan which is what Rosie's
doctor has ordered the two main types of stroke are ischemic and hemorrhagic
ischemic strokes are the most common and are the result of a blood clot or plaque
blocking blood flow to an area of the brain hemorrhagic strokes occur when
blood leaks into the brain tissue or around the brain Rosie it looks like
you're having an ischemic stroke but because you recognize the symptoms
called 911 got here so quickly we're able to use a clot-busting medicine
called TPA to try to break that blood clot up and restore blood flow to your
brain like any medicine we use there are risks and the biggest risk is bleeding
but given your history the kind of stroke you're having and how quickly you
got here I think you're a very good candidate for the medication are you
okay with us going ahead and giving you that medicine to try to stop this stroke
yes there are also other methods available for the treatment of ischemic
strokes such as mechanical thrombectomy which can be used to remove the clot if
Rosie had a hemorrhagic stroke medication to lower her blood pressure
or surgery maybe treatment options following her initial treatment Rosie
will be closely monitored for at least the next 24 hours in the hospital her
medical team will begin to evaluate the reasons why she had a stroke and make
recommendations for needed follow-up care most stroke survivors will followup
with their primary care provider and a neurologist after a stroke many will
need some therapy to aid in the recovery process with help of common therapies
including physical therapy occupational therapy and speech-language therapy
improvements can still happen even two years after a stroke it is important to
keep in mind that even quick action and excellent medical care
stroke can be a life-threatening medical event knowing the signs and symptoms of
stroke calling 9-1-1 and telling the operator that you suspect a stroke can
all make a considerable impact on your outcome because when it comes to stroke
every second counts too easily remember how to spot a stroke
remember fast f is for face does one side of the face droop a is for arms
does one arm drift downward S is for speech is their speech slurred or
strange and t is for time if you observe any of these signs it is time to call
9-1-1 immediately remember stroke is an emergency be sure to educate yourself
about stroke now and know that you can take steps to manage your stroke risk
making lifestyle changes such as healthier eating habits increasing your
physical activity and quitting use of tobacco can all make a big difference if
you have medical risk factors taking all your medications as prescribed by your
provider and going for regular check-ups are key to reducing your risk for a
stroke be sure to take steps to reduce your risk for stroke today