Post
by wardmiller » Mon Dec 24, 2012 2:37 pm
As with much seen on the Web, there is some truth to that, some confusion, and some important facts missing.
First, there are two completely different kinds of CerebraVascular Accidents (CVA's) or Strokes. 1) Ischemic, where a clot blocks blood flow to a portion of the brain, and 2) Hemorrhagic, where the blood vessel ruptures and again denies a portion of the brain with necessary blood. For 1), patients are sometimes under blood "thinning" therapy. For 2) high blood pressure can be the cause.
The 3-hour rule only applies to 1). A drug, TPA, may be administered and it sort of acts like dynamite, if it reacts as hoped for, and it blasts the clot away. When you hear a person had a stroke and now is perfectly normal, it is often this case. However, as with all drugs, there are possible undesirable side effects. In some cases the TPA causes internal bleeding of vital organs, such as liver, or brain. In severe cases, the patient ends up like a vegetable, so this therapy is not given lightly. Patients who were previously taking Warfarin (a blood "thinner") are usually not good candidates for this modality.
Depending on the portion of the brain affected by the CVA, the patient will show different signs. Generally, the following are used to assess a suspected CVA:
1. "Stick out your tongue."
2. "What is your name?"
3. Place a finger in each of the patient's palms, "Grip my fingers."
4. "Lift your left leg. Lift your right leg."
5. "Wiggle your toes."
6. Observe if there is a droop to one side of the mouth or face.
7. Notice if the patient has an altered mental status.
The person may have a problem with one or more of those. That may indicate a CVA. For example, if the speech is slurred, it could be caused muscular problems, or the communication center of the brain might be affected. There is virtually nothing the layman can do at this point. The most important thing is getting the person to a medical facility as quickly as possible. The only thing that could delay transporting is if the person is not breathing. In that case, CPR should commence, then transport as soon as possible.
There is a lot more to this subject, but that is a brief outline.
