Immediate Steps to be Taken In Case Of Brain Stroke

Immediate Steps to be Taken In Case Of Brain Stroke
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A brain stroke is a condition in which the blood supply to the brain gets blocked or ceases
due to medical reasons. It is a severe condition affecting the brain stem and can lead to
disability or even death. Its effects on the body depend on the part of the brain affected.
Around 18 lakh people are impacted by a brain stroke every year in India. In such a case,
quick actions become vital.

Types

There are 3 main types of brain stroke:

1. Ischemic Stroke: It is the most common type of stroke caused by the blockage of
arteries that carry blood to the brain as a result of blood clots or fatty deposits.
2. Hemorrhagic Stroke: The arteries or blood vessels in the brain erupt or burst to lead
to blood leakage which is more likely to damage the brain cells thereby reducing the blood supply to the brain.
3. Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) or Mini-stroke: It is a temporary condition caused by
the blockage of blood supply to the brain. Though difficult to diagnose, these symptoms are quick and they can completely go away within a few hours.

Signs & symptoms

Different individuals experience different symptoms during a brain stroke. However, some of them are common. These include the acronym FAST, which incorporates the initial signs indicative of a brain stroke.

• F: Face: Is there any change in the person’s face or is the mouth dropping to either side?
• A: Arms: Is the person able to raise both arms? Is one arm numb or weaker than the other?

Can he hold them up for a while?

• S: Speech: Is the speech grabbled or slurred?
T: Time: If the answer to any of the above question (s) is ‘yes’, then one should call immediately for medical help.

Other Symptoms Include:

● Light-headedness, dizziness, or nausea
● Loss of balance or unconsciousness
● Blurred or distorted vision in one or both eyes.
● Weakness, tingling, or numbness on one side of the body
● Difficulty in articulating or understanding speech
● Sudden confusion or serious headache

Steps to be taken in case of a brain stroke

If one shows symptoms or suffers from a brain stroke, immediate help should be sought even in case of mild symptoms. This is because it can cause severe damage or disability to the sufferer. It only takes a few minutes for the brain cells to die.

Therefore, immediate help or certain precautionary methods can help save a person’s life.
The step-by-step guide for first-aid in case of a brain stroke is as follows:

1. If a person appears to be having a stroke, the first step is to confirm the situation by
analysing the symptoms through the FAST acronym.
2. If it is a stroke, one should immediately call for medical help and an ambulance.
3. Until the ambulance arrives, make sure the person is in a safe place.
4. Stay calm and keep talking to the person. Ask for his/her personal information like
name, address, etc. (if the person is unknown).

If s/he is unable to speak, ask him/her to answer by signs such as pressing your hand as a
gesture. If they still don’t respond, the person might be unconscious.

5. Gently place him/her in a comfortable position with the body lying to the side and the head & shoulders slightly raised and supported with a pillow. If you vomit, this is what you should do.
6. If the person is unconscious, place him/her in a recovery position by placing one arm at a right angle to the body and the other arm across the chest.
7. One leg should be straight and the other should be bent at the knee.
8. Check if s/he is cold. Cover with a warm blanket, if needed.
9. Check if the person is breathing or not by lifting his/her chin or head back to see if the chest is moving or listening for any breathing sound(s) in case the person is unconscious. Likewise, place a finger over his/her nose or mouth to feel the breath. If there is no sign of breathing, perform CPR immediately.
10. In case the person is having difficulty breathing, loosen any tight clothing such as a
buttoned shirt, collars or scarves, ties, etc.
11. If the person is conscious, tell him/her to stay calm and assure him that help is on
the way.
12. Keep an eye on the person’s symptoms and pay attention if any changes occur.
13. Try to keep track of time and remember the time during which the symptoms
persisted or started.
14. Remove any blockage in the mouth or nose manually, if necessary.
15. If the person is unable to move any limb or shows signs of weakness in moving them,
ask him/her to stay calm and not move that limb.
16. Don’t give the person anything to eat or drink.
17. On arrival of medical help, don’t forget to tell the paramedics about the person’s
symptoms and when they started.
18) Also, it is crucial that you tell the emergency personnel if the person fell or hit
his/her head during the stroke.
19. If known, please provide the required details of any medication that the person
suffering from a brain stroke has been taking.

After first aid, the person should be taken to the hospital immediately. There, the doctors
will perform several tests and exams such as MRI or CT scans. This will enable them to know
the exact cause and nature of the stroke and thus start the required treatment based on the
diagnosis.

Strokes can be treated with medication, physical therapy, and speech therapy, as well as surgery in severe cases. Since the complications are related to the brain, the recovery can sometimes be prolonged and draining. Therefore, rehabilitation, encouragement, and a supportive and caring system will encourage a speedy recovery.

Brain strokes can lead to various disabilities or severe damage if not treated within 4.5
hours. Thus, it is important to act quickly instead of waiting and watching.

For immediate help in Ghaziabad and Delhi NCR with brain stroke cases, Yashoda Hospital & Research Centre, Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad is the most reputable. It has an experienced and prominent team of neurologists and physiotherapists. We provide immediate help to any
such patient, 24/7.

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Yashoda Hospital

Yashoda Hospital is one of the best super specialty hospitals in Ghaziabad, Noida & Delhi NCR. Yashoda Hospital aims at providing the best healthcare services across the country and not just in Delhi NCR, Ghaziabad & Noida. Being a super speciality hospital, Yashoda Hospital has a number of dedicated specialities under one roof- gastroenterology, general surgery, obstetrics & gynaecology, cardiology, pulmonology & internal medicine, orthopedics, urology and many more.

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