Question 1

What is the outlook of Stroke?

Accepted Answer

The outlook of a stroke depends on the type of stroke that you experienced. How quickly you got treatment after the stroke also determines the outlook. People who have ischemic strokes have a more favourable outlook than those who have haemorrhagic strokes. This is because haemorrhagic strokes have more complications associated with them which can lead to a host of other problems.

Question 2

When should I contact emergency care?

Accepted Answer

You should contact emergency care as soon as you notice any signs that signal that you or someone else has a stroke. Even if you feel that the symptoms are going away you should still contact emergency care. If you wait for the symptoms to go away, then there can be severe brain damage as a result and it can even cause disability to occur. In some cases, it can also lead to death which is why you need to carefully observe if someone seems to be exhibiting stroke symptoms until emergency care is given.

Question 3

What are the types of questions that you should ask your doctor?

Accepted Answer

Once you have had a stroke, you should ask your doctor questions like how fast your recovery will be and if you need to make any lifestyle changes for faster recovery. You should ask what activities you can do and which activities you should avoid. You can ask about what caused a stroke and if there are any chances for you to reduce your risk of having another stroke. Asking your doctor about therapy is a good idea too. You can ask about any medications that you can take to help you recover. You can ask about prevention techniques that will help prevent you from having another stroke.

Question 4

I find it challenging to cope with the fact that I had a stroke. I feel depressed. What should I do?

Accepted Answer

Firstly, it is important to know that it is normal to find difficulty in coping with a stroke experience. Stroke changes your life, and it can easily take a toll on you emotionally. But giving up and living a life that you don’t enjoy is not recommended. While this is easier said than done, you must know that it is in your control to turn your life around. You need to accept the fact that it is a tough journey, and it can take time. This will ensure that you can go a step further and do something about the turmoil that you are feeling. Make sure that you take rest and allow yourself the time you need to recover. There is no competition, and you always need to remember that.

You can join a support group. If you are not so keen on meeting people, then you can join online support groups. You should make it a habit to get out more often. Trying to get out of the house at least once a day will boost your morale and it will make you feel good. Go out for yourself. Make sure you communicate openly with your loved ones so they know how to help. Talking about your feelings can help you feel better. You can go celebrate the fact that you survived a stroke. Make your life about celebration, not about regret and sadness.

Question 5

I have heard of the term ‘silent stroke’, what is that?

Accepted Answer

A silent stroke is when a stroke takes place, but you don’t know that you had a stroke. The reason is that the symptoms are not easy to spot. This does not mean that they don’t cause any brain damage because they do. In fact, they cause permanent brain damage. People who have had silent strokes are prone to memory problems and thinking problems. Silent strokes can lead to other types of strokes for which symptoms are easier to recognize. How do you know that you had a silent Stroke? While you cannot detect the stroke, brain scans will show the damage to the brain if you happen to have one.

Your doctor will be able to tell if you are having a silent stroke without even testing. While silent strokes can affect many things, therapy can help. In this manner, you can regain your abilities over time.

Question 6

Can you die from a brain stroke?

Accepted Answer

Although strokes are a leading cause of death, it is not mandatory that every stroke is fatal. The severity of the effect of a stroke depends on the location and how fast one receives treatment.

A constant supply of blood and oxygen is necessary for the brain to function. When blood flow to the brain is obstructed, brain cells begin to die within minutes, leading to permanent disability. A stroke can affect language, moods, vision, and movement. If the brain is deprived of oxygen and blood for too long, it can lead to death. Hence, early treatment is essential to increase the chances of surviving a stroke with little or no disability.

Question 7

What does a stroke feel like?

Accepted Answer

A stroke may feel like a severe headache in some, while others may not feel any pain. Recognizing the signs early can help save a life and prevent permanent brain damage. Some of the symptoms to watch out for include:

The feeling of numbness or weakness in the face. It may also be present on one or both sides of the body.
Difficulty speaking or understanding speech
Having trouble seeing with one or both eyes
Loss of balance or coordination and inability to walk

Question 8

What are the risk factors of stroke?

Accepted Answer

Some of the risk factors of stroke include:

High blood pressure
Smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke as well
Diabetes
High cholesterol
Obstructive sleep apnoea
Obesity
Physical inactivity
Heavy drinking
Drugs like cocaine or methamphetamine
Personal or family history of stroke, heart attack or transient ischemic attack
Cardiovascular diseases, such as atrial fibrillation, heart failure and other heart defects.

Question 9

What preventive medications can you take?

Accepted Answer

Your doctor may prescribe certain medications to reduce the risk of a second stroke if you had an ischemic stroke. Some of the medications include:

Antiplatelet drugs: Platelets help form clots. But if you have had a stroke, you have to take antiplatelet drugs to make the platelet cells less likely to clot. Aspirin is the most commonly used antiplatelet medication.
Aggrenox is another medication that can be used to reduce the risk of blood clotting. Aggrenox is a combination of low-dose aspirin and the anti-platelet drug dipyridamole. If you can’t take aspirin, clopidogrel may be prescribed.
Anticoagulants: Anticoagulant drugs work to reduce blood clotting. Heparin is a fast acting and may be used for a short term under your doctor’s supervision. For long-term use, the slow-acting warfarin drug can be used. Warfarin is a powerful blood-thinning drug, so it needs to be taken as directed. Other medications include Dabigatran (Pradaxa), Rivaroxaban (Xarelto), Apixaban (Eliquis) and Edoxaban (Savaysa). These drugs are shorter acting than Warfarin and usually don’t need regular blood tests or monitoring. These drugs are also associated with a lower risk of bleeding complications.

Question 10

How likely is a second stroke?

Accepted Answer

Stroke is a serious medical condition and is the second leading cause of death in the world. Surviving one stroke won’t ensure that the individual is not likely to get another one. To prevent its recurrence, lifestyle changes and medications are necessary. Some of the ways to prevent it are:

Stop smoking: Smoking is the leading cause of several illnesses, including strokes. Cutting out tobacco products prevents the stress that it puts on the blood vessels in the brain, heart, and other body parts. This will also reduce the chances of getting cancer.

Medications: It is recommended not to skip doses or slack off on the prescribed medicines to control your cholesterol, blood pressure or diabetes.

Mediterranean dietary habits: Studies have proven that including lots of fruits and vegetables can lower the chances of stroke by 21%. Another study found that the Mediterranean dietary patterns consisted of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-processed foods, and olive oil, which are constantly associated with a reduced rate of stroke.

Blood clot in brain/stroke: