Download Melissa C.

Stroke
By Melissa C.
Stroke is a disease
that affects the blood
vessels that supply
blood to the brain.
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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