A stroke does not mean game-over

How are strokes caused?

A stroke is caused by one of two things. A blood vessel that brings oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either clogged or it bursts. In either case, if the brain doesn’t get the blood and oxygen it needs, nerve cells in the affected areas die within minutes. An ischemic stroke is caused by a blood clot or some other particle that blocks the blood flow in an artery leading to or in the brain. Ischemic strokes are the most common types of strokes.

A hemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding from a burst blood vessel. One type involves a blood vessel on the brain’s surface that ruptures and bleeds into the space between the brain and skull. Another type involves a defective artery that bursts inside the brain. If an aneurysm — a pouch that balloons out from a weak spot in the artery wall — bursts in the brain, it causes a hemorrhagic stroke.

Don't ignore the warning signs of a stroke

Every 45 seconds, someone in America has a stroke. It’s the nation’s No. 3 killer and a leading cause of severe, long-term disability. And the signs of one coming can be as subtle as a “not quite right feeling” or as extreme as memory loss, noted Dr. Julie Brown, an emergency physician with Chesapeake Regional Medical Center, “If you experience any of the potential symptoms,” she said, “it is imperative that you visit a physician as quickly as possible so that all treatment options are available to you.”

By maintaining a heart healthy lifestyle, by staying active and eating healthy, patients can reduce their risk of stroke and other cardiac disease. Cutting out smoking can also be a boon to one’s health. “Patients can also reduce their risk by visiting a doctor once a year,” said Brown. “A good physicalexam and the necessary follow-up care is a large part of disease prevention for overall health, not just cardiovascular health.”

The following warning signs, which are often temporary and last a few minutes, may be due to a “ministroke,” called a transient ischemic attack. Many times TIAs signal the onset of a full-blown 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

Taking back life after a stroke

When brain cells injured from a stroke don’t work, the part of the body they control won’t work either. However, in many cases, rehabilitation will help survivors relearn many of the things that they used to take for granted.

“Our goal is to make survivors live as independently as they can by strengthening their balance and helping them improve their coordination,” said Wendy Burton, a physical therapy assistant at the rehabilitiaton services department at Chesapeake General Hospital. Outpatients typically receive a minimum of two hours of speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy on each visit. All services are offered by hospital staff personnel on site, so patients only need to make the one trip.

Brain injury from a stroke can affect a person’s senses, motor skills, speech and the ability to understand speech. It can cause a person to act and think differently, often misconstruing memories and triggering random emotions. Many times, a survivor is paralyzed or noticeably weak on one side of the body. These effects may be temporary or permanent, depending on the severity of the brain injury and the area of the brain affected.

On average, patients receive rehabilitation services from four to eight weeks to help them handle such tasks as eating, walking, bathing and even swallowing. “We work with patients so that they can perform daily tasks on their own or with very little assistance,” Burton said.

If survivors and their families need help coping with the aftermath of a stroke, Chesapeake Regional Medical Center sponsors a stroke support group that meets from 2-3:30 p.m. on the first or second Monday of each month at the Lifestyle Center.

“We arrange to have a speaker talk to survivors and their care partners about things like Medicare billings, appropriate bathtubs, railings and commodes; and driving programs to help survivors get back up to speed,” said Burton, who helps facilitate the meetings. “The meetings are really beneficial because survivors can meet other people who are going through what they’re going through. They realize they’re not alone and a stroke isn’t the end of the world.”

The meetings are free and open to the public. For more information, call 312.6122.