PATRICIA luu
1.9 million brain cell die a minute when a person suffers a stroke. -AHA/ASA
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PATRICIA luu
I am a Registered Nurse Stroke Coordinator working in a community hospital located in Los Angeles County that is certified by The Joint Commission as a Primary Stroke Center. As a Stroke Coordinator, I coordinate and care of stroke patients while working collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team to ensure coordination and education of patient care and resource utilization through the use of stroke policies, protocols, and procedures according to the Clinical Practice Guidelines set by the American Heart and Stroke Association. In addition, I am involve in community outreach events and educating our community about stroke and stroke prevention. Now, I would like to share what stroke is all about.
WHAT IS STROKE?
Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. It is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States.
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A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or ruptures. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so it and brain cells die.
TYPES OF STROKES
HEMORRHAGIC STROKE
ISCHEMIC STROKE
TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK
HEMORRHAGIC STROKE
A brain aneurysm burst or a weakened blood vessel ruptures. Blood spills into or around the brain and creates swelling and pressure, damaging cells and tissue in the brain. Hemorrhagic strokes are less common, only 13% of all strokes are hemorrhagic, but they are responsible for about 40% of all stroke deaths. The most common cause of hemorrhagic stroke is uncontrolled high blood pressure.
ISCHEMIC STROKE
A blood vessel carrying blood to the brain is blocked by a blood clot. Ischemic stokes are the most common type of strokes and account for about 87% of all strokes. High blood pressure is the most important risk factor for ischemic stroke.
TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK (TIA)
TIAs or "mini-strokes" occur when blood flow to part of the brain stops for a short period of time mimicking stroke-like symptoms that last less than 5 minutes with an average of about a minute before disappearing. TIAs generally do not cause permanent brain damage, they are a serious warning sign that a stroke may happen in the future and should not be ignored, be sure to call 911.
WHY STROKE IS IMPORTANT
Approximately 130,000 people die a year.
5th leading cause of death in the United States.
Nearly 800,000 people in the United States have a stroke every year.
Every 4 minutes someone dies from a stroke.
Stroke occurs every 40 seconds.
Leading cause of long-term disability.
80 percent of stroke are PREVENTABLE.
RISK FACTORS FOR STROKE
High Blood Pressure
Smoking
Diabetes
Unhealthy Diets High in Fat and Salt
Physical Inactivity
Obesity or Overweight
High Blood Cholesterol
Atrial Fibrillation
Sickle Cell Disease
Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Non-compliance with Medications
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STROKE PREVENTION
Prevent or Control High Blood Pressure
Eat Healthy
Stop Smoking
Be Physically Active
Lose Weight
Control Blood Sugar
Manage Cholesterol
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SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF STROKE
WHAT TO DO
REDUCE: Stroke Risk
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RECOGNIZE: Stroke Symptoms
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RESPOND: Call 911 Immediately
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
TIME IS BRAIN -- THINK FAST WHEN STROKE HAPPENS
The phrase "time is brain" emphasizes that human nervous tissue is rapidly and irretrievably lost as stroke progresses and that therapeutic interventions should be emergently pursued.
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Every minute in which a large vessel ischemic stroke is untreated, the average patient loses 1.9 million neurons, 13.8 billion synapses, and 12 km (7 miles) of axonal fibers. Each hour in which treatment fails to occur, the brain loses as many neuron as it does in almost 3.6 years of normal aging.
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-American Heart and Stroke Association: http://stroke.ahajournals.org/content/37/1/263
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