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Stroke and Stroke Recovery

Stroke and Stroke Recovery

 

Every year, stroke causes around 140,000 deaths in the USA, and the damage to the economy due to stroke, on average, is a whopping $34 billion. The state of Illinois has recorded more than 6,000 annual deaths from strokes consistently in recent years, which is why awareness regarding the emergency medical condition is the need of the hour. With greater awareness, more lives can be saved through rapid stroke treatment. Let’s start things off with what a stroke is.

 

A brief overview of stroke

 

Our brain tissue requires a healthy combination of oxygen and various other nutrients to function at their optimum. It’s our blood that carries this vital combination to the brain. However, as soon as the blood is cut off from the tissues, brain cells and tissues start dying, resulting in severe neurological damage, and in the worst cases, death.

The way to reducing neurological damage and the risk of death by aiding stroke recovery is to give emergency medical care to a sufferer as early as possible. The greater the delay, the higher the risks.

 

Symptoms

When a person has a stroke, he/she may experience the following signs and symptoms:

As strokes tend to strike suddenly and without warning, it may be difficult for a sufferer to seek medical help on his/her own. If you suspect that someone you are with is experiencing a stroke, apply the Face, Arms, Speech, Time (FAST) rule and identify the following signs:

 

Different types of stroke

Stroke can be broadly classified into three types:

 

Risk factors

Susceptibility to stroke is increased in an individual when the following risk factors are present:

 

An individual that has all these risk factors present is at a greater danger of suffering a stroke than a person with one or two factors.

 

Treatment

Ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes have different treatments, and correct stroke diagnosis and treatment are vital to facilitate recovery. Some of the treatments for ischemic strokes include:

Surgery may be necessary for treating hemorrhagic strokes if a burst aneurysm is detected.

 

Stroke alternative therapy has also become popular in recent times to help sufferers through their stroke rehabilitation period. Some of the alternative therapies for stroke include the consumption of vitamin or herbal supplements, massage, meditation, HBOT (hyperbaric therapy) and acupuncture. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a medical treatment that involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized environment. HBOT has been studied as a possible treatment for stroke recovery, and there is some evidence to suggest that it may be beneficial.  When a person experiences a stroke, part of their brain is deprived of oxygen, leading to damage and impaired function. HBOT may help to promote healing and recovery by increasing the amount of oxygen available to the brain tissue. By breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized environment, the amount of oxygen that dissolves in the blood is increased, allowing it to reach areas of the brain that may be damaged.  One of the theories about HBOT benefits for patients with post-stroke recovery is implying that HBOT is increasing the number of synaptic connections in the brain and therefore improving brain neuroplasticity.

If you live in Chicago or the adjacent Oak Park area and require quality stroke treatment, get in touch with Chicago Neurological Services, a Chicago neurologist clinic that offers some of the most effective treatments. At the helm of the clinic is Dr. Lenny Cohen, a reputed Chicago neurologist known for combining the best of alternative and traditional treatment methods for rehabilitating stroke patients.

Author
Image of Lenny Cohen, MD Lenny Cohen, MD Brain health is complex and affects everyone. An expert physician and diplomate of the American Board of Neurology and Psychiatry, Dr. Lenny Cohen is committed to personalized care and to helping patients understand their condition, feel their best and live each day optimally and comfortably. Leveraging the latest brain research and experience seeing thousands of patients, Dr. Cohen and his team’s approach to comprehensive brain health is a gamechanger in the new world of brain longevity. Integrating Neurology, IV infusion therapy, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Hyperbaric Therapy, Chicago Neurological Services is the only center in Chicago to holistically treat the brain and neurological pathology.

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