Articles Posted in Stroke

This May, the American Heart Association and several other organisations are drawing attention to the disabling impacts of a stroke during National Stroke Awareness Month.

Strokes generally tend to affect older people, but persons of any age can suffer a stroke.  The impact of the stroke may be much higher when the patient is an elderly person. A stroke can result in severe consequences that make it difficult for a person to lead a normal life.  For instance, when the stroke has affected the right side, the impact also includes loss of speech and communication impediments.  There may be weakness in the hands and upper extremities. This makes it difficult for the affected person to lift his arm or to grasp objects.  Needless to say, the inability to perform these actions can mean an inability to perform many manual tasks.

Weakness in the legs or paralysis in the lower extremities could also mean that the person is unable to walk or ambulate without an assistive device.  Swallowing is another function that can be affected by a stroke.  This can directly affect a person’s health because it makes it difficult to swallow his food.  Swallowing impairments cause malnutrition, severe weight loss and extreme fatigue.  Failure to maintain bladder control is another distressing side effect of a stroke that can impair the person’s ability to lead a normal life, including his ability to work and earn a living.

Black Americans have a risk of suffering a stroke that is as much as four times higher than white Americans.

The new study finds that the risk of stroke increases significantly for Black Americans once they reach the age of 40. The primary cause of this is an increase in blood pressure or hypertension levels, which spike once black Americans cross the age of 40.  This increase in blood pressure puts them at a much higher risk of suffering a stroke.

According to the study, high blood pressure in Black Americans begins at a much earlier age, and lasts for a much longer duration.  These hypertension levels also tend to be much more severe in Black Americans compared to white Americans.

Rehabilitation and therapy services are crucial for stroke survivors who benefit significantly from these therapies. During the pandemic, many Americans who suffered a stroke were unable to access the rehab services that they required.

The pandemic disrupted access to medical and healthcare services for Social Security disability beneficiaries across Georgia. For people who suffer from certain conditions, rehabilitation services are crucial. According to experts, stroke survivors may not be receiving the kind of rehabilitation services they require during the pandemic.

Rehab, according to the American Stroke Association, should begin within 3 months of a stroke. This is the time when long- term damage from the brain injury can be mitigated, and the brain is most likely to be able to adapt to the damage that it has suffered. Survivors may be more likely to regain skills or learn new ways of performing routine activities when rehabilitation begins quickly.