Stroke

Prepared by

United Company Physician

Tel : 03-359-5024
mahdya@united.sabic.com
!Stroke is a brain attack

Stroke is a cutting off vital blood and oxygen to

the brain cells that control everything you do -
from speaking, to walking, to breathing.
Most strokes occur when arteries are
blocked by blood clots or by the gradual
build-up of plaque and other fatty
deposits. Some strokes can be caused by
arteries rupturing when weak spots on the
blood vessel wall break.
 Stroke
Stroke is the third most common cause of
death in developed countries. It is higher
in black African than in Caucasian, more
common in males and uncommon below
the age of 40 years.
 Reducing Risk
Everyone has some stroke risk. A few
stroke risk factors are beyond your
control, such as being over age 55, being
a male, being an African-American, having
diabetes, and having a family history of
stroke.
:Medical stroke risk factors include

Previous stroke, previous episode of

transient ischemic attack or “TIA,” high
cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart
disease, atrial fibrillation and carotid
artery disease. These medical risk
factors can be controlled.
:Lifestyle stroke risk factors include

Smoking, being overweight and drinking too

much alcohol. You can control these
lifestyle risk factors by quitting smoking,
exercising regularly, watching what and
how much you eat and limiting alcohol
consumption.
 National Stroke Association’s
Stroke Prevention Guidelines
 Know your blood pressure
 Find out if you have atrial fibrillation
 If you smoke, stop
 If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation
 Know your cholesterol number
 Control your diabetes.
 Include exercise in the activities you
enjoy in your daily routine.
 Enjoy a lower sodium (salt), lower fat
diet.
 Ask your doctor if you have circulation
problems. If so, work with your doctor
to control them.
 If you have any stroke symptoms, seek
immediate medical attention
 Recognizing Symptoms

Learning them and knowing what to do when

they occur could save your life.

Common stroke symptoms include:

 Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or
leg especially on one side of the body
 Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
 Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
 Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of
balance or coordination
 Sudden severe headache with no known
cause.

Call 997 if you see or have any of

.these symptoms
Treatment can be more effective if given
.quickly

Every minute counts!

Other Important but less common
:stroke symptoms Include

 Sudden nausea, fever and vomiting

distinguished from a viral illness by the speed
of onset (minutes or hours vs. several days)

 Brief loss of consciousness or period of

decreased consciousness (fainting, confusion,
convulsions or coma)
Following your
doctor’s orders
of medication
and treatment
can help
reduce your
risk of having a
stroke
Changing the Perception of Stroke
REALITY MYTH
Stroke is largely preventable Stroke is unpreventable

Stroke requires emergency Stroke cannot be treated

treatment
Stroke can happen to anyone Stroke only strikes the elderly

Stroke is a "Brain Attack" Stroke happens to the heart

Stroke recovery continues Stroke recovery only happens

throughout life for a few months following a
stroke
Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are
difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the
lack of awareness spells disaster. The
stroke victim may suffer brain damage
when people nearby fail to recognize
the symptoms of a stroke.
Now doctors say a bystander can
recognize a stroke by asking three 
simple questions:
 Ask the individual to smile.
 Ask him or her to raise both
arms.
 Ask the person to speak a simple
sentence.
If he or she has trouble with any of
these tasks, call 997 immediately
and describe the symptoms to the
dispatcher.

After discovering that a group of non-medical

volunteers could identify facial weakness, arm
weakness and speech problems, researchers
urged the general public to learn the three
questions.
They presented their conclusions at the
American Stroke Association's annual meeting
last February.

Widespread use of this test could result in

prompt diagnosis and
treatment of the stroke and prevent brain
damage.
A cardiologist says if everyone who
gets this e-mail sends it to 10
people; you can bet that at least one
life will be saved.

Tell as many people as possible

about this. It could save their lives!
 Rehabilitation Therapy

According to the National Stroke

Association:
 10% of stroke survivors recover almost
completely
 25% recover with minor impairments
 40% experience moderate to severe
impairments that require special care
 10% require care in a nursing home or other
long-term facility

 15% die shortly after the stroke

 14% (approximate) of stroke survivors

experience a second stroke in the first year
following a stroke.
:Successful rehabilitation depends on
 Amount of damage to the brain

 Skill on the part of the rehabilitation team

 Cooperation of family and friends. Caring

family/friends can be one of the most important
factors in rehabilitation

 Timing of rehabilitation - the earlier it begins the

more likely survivors are to regain lost abilities and
skills
 … Remember
Your doctor is the single best source of
information regarding your health.

Please consult your doctor if you have any

questions about your health or your
medication.