STROKES
What does the brain need a constant supply of?
Blood & oxygen
What controls the right side of your body?
The left hemisphere of the brain affects the right side of the body.
Left hemisphere controls: speech/language, reading, number skills, writing, math and reasoning.
What does the F in FAST stand for?
What is the single most important risk factor/cause of a stroke?
High blood pressure. Know your blood pressure and have it checked frequently. Normal blood pressure is 120/80. Try hard to reduce it!
Will you have less energy after a stroke?
After a stroke you may have less energy because of poor sleep, activities will take more energy/effort than before, emotional changes or depression.
What happens in the brain when you have a stroke?
An artery in the brain either gets blocked or bursts. As a result, the brain does not get the blood it needs.
What is a hemisphere?
The brain is divided into two halves called hemispheres. Each hemisphere controls different behaviors from the opposite side of your body
What does the A in FAST stand for?
ARM (weakness)
What doubles your risk of having a stroke?
Diabetes. It's important to manage your diabetes
Why should you change your eating habits after a stroke?
To help manage high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes.
Bake, broil, roast or boil foods instead of frying. Read food labels. Eat more fruits & vegetables. Try keep yourself at a healthy weight.
What is your body's control center?
The brain. It controls movement and functions of your body.
What does the right side of your brain control?
A stroke on the right side of the brain affects the left side of the body.
Right hemisphere controls: depth perception, creativity, insight, spatial orientation, Emotions.
What does the S in FAST stand for?
SPEECH (difficulty)
Why should you manage high cholesterol?
Increases the risk of blocked arteries, If an artery becomes blocked in the brain, a stroke can result.
How to manage high cholesterol: diet (fatty foods), no smoking, lots of exercise.
What does it mean to get good physical activity?
An active lifestyle includes slowly improving your physical activity tolerance.
Getting exercise (water exercise, chair exercise, walking, resistance bands, small hand weights).
Scheduling regular medical checkups.
What are some skills affected by a stroke?
Vision, balance, speech, swallowing and thinking.
What is the brainstem important for?
The brainstem is the 'major communication hub' for messages between your brain and body. As well as: breathing, heart rate, hearing, eye movement, balance, muscle movement for speech.
What does the T in FAST stand for?
TIME (to Call 911).
What does the term A-fib have to do with strokes?
A-fib (Atrial Fibrillation) is a type of heart disease. When this happens the heart begins to beat in disorganized way and out of rhythm. This can cause blood to pool or clot, leading to a stroke. A-fib increases the risk of stroke five times.
Why is it important to follow 'doctor's orders or prescribed medications?
Medical advice helps control chronic conditions, overall health and well being. Medications help lower the risk of second stroke.
What does the term a 'medical emergency' mean? What is the emergency number you call?
A time in which you should call for IMMEDIATE medical help.
911
How many brain regions/lobes do we have?
FOUR
Frontal lobe: personality, emotions, behaviors
Parietal lobe: body in space, processing language, sensation
Occipital lobe: Vision
Temporal Lobe: understanding language, emotions, hearing, Long term memory
What are other symptoms not in the acronym FAST that someone having a stroke might experience?
Headaches, Confusion, Vision changes, Pain (face or legs), Generalized weakness.
What is a TIA?
TIA (Transient ischemic attack) is a temporary period of experiencing symptoms similar to a stroke. This can last for only a short time or minutes but is usually an early warning sign of a stroke. You should still seek emergency medical treatment immediately.
Why is it important to decrease stress levels to prevent a stroke?
To live your best life it is important to decrease chronic stress to prevent another stroke/heart attack. Adjusting to the physical, cognitive and emotional changes after a stroke can be hard.
Things that can help reduce stress are: continuing close relationships with friends/family, relaxation/meditation, journaling, music, open communication.