Recognizing The Different Signs Of A Stroke

When it comes to getting tips on better health for older adults, determining and treating stroke is often overlooked even though it is essential for keeping seniors safe from harm. That’s because you have so very little time to waste in treating the effects of a stroke and the earleir you recognize the signs that your loved one is about to suffer one, the better off you are in helping to prevent the serious repercussions that can come with it.

Dangers of a Stroke

Stroke sufferers are already facing several dangers that can result in irreparable harm or even death, so acting quickly is in the best interests of the victim. These problems can be severely exacerbated in elderly adults and when you are seeking out Trusted In Home Senior Care, it’s absolutely essential that your chosen caregivers are well-apprised of the signs of stroke.

That’s because a stroke can pose substantial dangers such as brain damage, a variety of physical disabilities, and even death. With this much at stake, you must be able to recognize the different signs of a stroke for the purposes of preventing these things from happening to your loved one.

Signs of a Stroke

The symptoms of a stroke come fast, so fast in fact that they can manifest themselves quite suddenly. One thing to keep in mind is that someone can suffer different types of strokes that occur in the front and posterior portions of the brain. In each case, it’s a matter of blood circulation becoming blocked in the brain and the manifestation of certain signs in the sufferer.

The various signs that occur can come without warning and from out of nowhere. In most instances, the symptoms are very sudden such as a sudden feeling of numbness in certain areas such as the face, arm, or leg, centralized to one side of the body. If the victim is suddenly confused and they can’t speak properly or understand what is being said to them by someone else, this too is another sign of a possible stroke.

A stroke sufferer might also have a sudden distortion or loss of vision in one or both of their eyes. They may also have a sudden inability to walk or maintain balance. Finally, a sudden dizziness or intense headache without any apparent reason is also a potential indicator of an oncoming stroke.

For sufferers of strokes that originate in the posterior of the brain, the signs of a stroke can be similar with some mild variations or slight differences in their effects. These might include: a sudden feeling of vertigo or dizziness, a weakness in the arm or leg on one side of the body, slurred speech, trouble with their vision including seeing double, a loss of balance, intense headaches, and a feeling of nausea that may or may not be accompanied by vomiting.

One of the most effective methods for checking on anyone who you suspect may be suffering or about to suffer the symptoms of a stroke is through the F.A.S.T. Test. This is an acronym that is used to help determine and describe the signs exhibited by anyone who may be having a stroke. This acronym is designed to help you remember each area to assess in the potential victim by identifying the most revealing areas that show obvious signs of the onset of a stroke.

The F.A.S.T. Test

Analyzing the potential victim by the following indicators of their behaviors and reactions to actions and instructions can go a very long way towards getting them early treatment and minimizing the impacts of a stroke or helping to avoid it altogether. Those actions and instructions are:

Face: Ask the individual to smile and monitor their face to see if one side displays signs of drooping.

Arms: Ask the individual to raise their arms and watch to see if one of them drops down.

Speech: Ask the individual to speak and listen closely for any slurring or other signs that the voice does not sound normal.

Time: If the individual is demonstrating any signs of the above symptoms, you must call 911 and request emergency services immediately. Make note of the time that the symptoms were being demonstrated.

Emergency Treatment

Always contact emergency services if someone is suffering or about to suffer the symptoms of a stroke. Attempting to intervene in any way is losing valuable seconds that are being taken from trained medical professionals who have the expertise and medications to treat a stroke and possibly prevent the victim from sustaining injury or death.