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After Stroke Strikes, What Comes Next?
By NAPS,
North American Precis Syndicate
. New York
,
NY
.
Photo:
NAPS
With quality rehabilitation, many stroke survivors can regain their independence. (NAPS) |
American Stroke Association highlights importance of
rehabilitation after a stroke this World Stroke Day
(NAPSI)—The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association,
the world’s leading voluntary health organization devoted to fighting
cardiovascular disease and stroke, wants stroke survivors to know that while
life may be different after a stroke, rehabilitation can help them regain
some independence, decrease chances of another stroke and provide new goals
to work toward.
Worldwide, stroke is the No. 2 cause of death and is a leading cause of
long-term disability. Stroke is more disabling than it is fatal. However,
stroke is largely beatable through high-quality rehabilitation and patient
support and implementation of the Association’s Rehabilitation
Guidelines.
“Rehabilitation is key to recovery after stroke,” said Olajide
Williams, M.D., chief of staff of Neurology, associate professor of Clinical
Neurology Columbia University Medical Center and an American Stroke
Association volunteer. “But up to a third of people who have a stroke
do not participate in a rehab program.”
Stroke rehabilitation can help patients build their strength, capabilities
and confidence, potentially regaining skills and returning to independent
living. Rehab can also help patients better manage other conditions they
have, which may affect daily living or their risk for a second stroke. “Stroke
recovery begins the moment you suspect a stroke,” said Williams. “The
sooner a person can be treated for stroke, the more likely he or she is to
have a successful outcome.” He advises everyone to be ready to respond
F.A.S.T. if they suspect a stroke.
The acronym “F.A.S.T.” represents the most common stroke
warning signs and stands for:
• Face Drooping—Does one side of the face droop or is it numb?
Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven?
• Arm Weakness—Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to
raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
• Speech Difficulty—Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to
speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like
“The sky is blue.”
• Time to Call 9-1-1—If someone shows any of these symptoms,
even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital immediately.
(Tip: Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared.)
Education about F.A.S.T is a part of the American Stroke Association’s
Together to End Stroke initiative, nationally sponsored by Medtronic.
Together, the two organizations aim to help people to easily recognize the
most common stroke warning signs to improve stroke outcomes.
The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s
Together to End Stroke™ initiative, nationally sponsored by Kindred
Rehabilitation Services, raises awareness that stroke is largely beatable
through high-quality rehabilitation, patient support and implementation of
the AHA/ASA’s Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery Guidelines.
For more information and a full list of the stroke warning signs, visit www.StrokeAssociation.org/WorldStrokeDay.
 “Stroke is a cause of long-term
disability but it’s also largely beatable through high-quality
rehabilitation, says the American Stroke Association. Its Together to End
Stroke initiative, sponsored by Medtronic, aims to help people to recognize
warning signs and improve outcomes. http://bit.ly/2ChDSfr”
On the Net:North American Precis Syndicate, Inc.(NAPSI)
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