3 THINGS TO DO/NOT TO DO WHEN ONE IS HAVING A STROKE
Every second counts, when it comes to a person having a stroke. What one can do in such crucial moments is what matters as it might help someone’s life. In this blog, we will delve into some essential dos and don’ts, so get ready to give your loved ones a chance to survive a stroke.
What is a stroke?
A stroke is commonly described as a brain attack. A part of your brain is robbed of essential oxygen, and blood supply is needed to restore it, so a part of the brain either bursts or clots. The longer a stroke goes untreated, the more the damage will be.
Three things to do once when someone is having a stroke
Call 108 immediately
To recognize the symptoms of a stroke is the hardest thing ever. If you observe any of the traits given below, act quickly and call 108 immediately.
- Sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, including the face, leg, arm, etc.
- Confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech.
- Trouble seeing in one or both the eyes.
- Problem while walking, dizziness, loss of balance, lack of coordination.
- Sudden severe headache.
- Visit your doctor at the best multispeciality hospital in Chennai right away if you or someone else has any of these symptoms.
Note the time you first see symptoms
The clot-busting medication also called tPA, or the tissue plasminogen activator, can be given to someone if they are having a stroke, which can potentially reverse or stop the symptoms from developing. But it must be delivered within 4 to 5 hours from the start of the symptoms. There may be more advanced therapies such as endovascular treatments which must be administered within 24 hours of symptoms onset and which involves surgically removing a clot that causes a stroke or fixing a swollen blood vessel that burst and caused pressure in the brain. If you witness someone getting a stroke, it will be helpful if they look at the time the symptoms started. This way, the emergency staff at the best multispeciality hospital in Chennai can make a more informed decision regarding treatment options.
Perform CPR, if necessary
Most stroke patients will not require CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation). If someone you know is unconscious when you spot them, check for their pulse and breathing. If you find none, call 108 and start CPR while you are waiting for the ambulance to arrive. You can also ask the dispatchers to teach you on how to perform CPR, which consists of repeated, steady chest compressions.
Three things not to do when one is having a stroke
Do not let the person sleep or talk you out of calling 108
Survivors often complain of feeling sleepy when a stroke first happens. A lot of patients may sleep for a few hours just before they come to the hospital because they are tired. No matter how much they talk you out of taking them to the hospital, rush them to the best multispeciality hospital in Chennai.
Please do not give them medication, food, or drinks.
There are two kinds of strokes: *Haemorrhagic stroke: Caused by a ruptured blood vessel. *Ischemic stroke: Caused due to a clot in the blood vessel
More than 80% of strokes are ischemic ones. If your stroke is caused by a ruptured blood vessel in the head, then you are among the 20% who have a hemorrhagic stroke. It is best not to give any medication, food, or drinks on our own to someone who has a stroke until the ambulance arrives as a stroke can affect their ability to swallow.
Stay focused, and take action quickly. You should never allow them to drive on their own. It is better to call 108 than drive them to a nearby emergency yourself. As frightening as it may get to witness someone having a stroke, knowing what to do and what not to do and act accordingly can help your loved one have the best possible outcome. We at Promed Hospital provide sophisticated, compassionate, and expert care to critically ill patients in our medical centre. Our approach to care emphasizes ethical principles and cost-effectiveness.
