Blog

While stroke is the #1 cause of long-term disability in the United States, you don’t have to be among those numbers. Even if some residual effect remains after a stroke, many people with a disability live long and fulfilling lives. Plan now to be one of these people by making lifestyle changes to avoid another stroke, by continuing the healing process long-term, and by maintaining a healthy, positive outlook. Fortunately, the steps you need to…

The most important step to preventing a second stroke is knowing what caused the first stroke. The “2021 Guideline for the Prevention of Stroke in Patients with Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack” directs healthcare professionals to perform diagnostic evaluations within 48 hours of symptom onset to determine the cause of the first stroke or TIA. In this way, strategies can be tailored to the patient’s particular healthcare needs to increase the effectiveness in preventing another…

There is a strong connection between diabetes and stroke – every two minutes, an American adult with diabetes is hospitalized for a stroke. According to the American Stroke Association, adults who have diabetes have twice the risk of stroke as those who do not have diabetes, and people with diabetes tend to have strokes earlier in life than people without diabetes. People with diabetes who have strokes are less likely to fully recover and have…

At least 30% of post-stroke patients will have clinically-recognizable depressive symptoms and approximately 20-25% will experience anxiety. Many will experience both at the same time. Anyone who has experienced even mild anxiety or depression knows that it can have a profound effect on one’s motivation and outlook. Even just having a “bad day” can temporarily throw us off. Depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders can have a profound effect on the recovery of stroke patients,…

If you are bringing a loved one home who has experienced a stroke, be prepared for a lot of changes. While you will need to learn how best to care for the stroke patient, you will also have to learn how to care for yourself, because if you burn out, physically or emotionally, you will be of little help to the ones you love. Follow a few steps to help you prepare to care for…

Sleep disorders have a long-recognized connection to stroke, including both insufficient sleep and excessive sleep. It’s very important to correct any sleep problems to improve every aspect of your health, including decreasing your stroke risk.  The relationship between sleep disorders, vascular risk factors, and stroke is well-documented, though not well understood. Consequences of untreated sleep disorders include decreased cognitive dysfunction, altered mood, and daytime fatigue, which can influence stroke occurrence, recurrence, and recovery. One-third of…

Stroke is the number one cause of disability in the United States. Most people find some bodily limitations after a stroke to which they need to adjust, whether they are temporary or long-term. If you have experienced a stroke, you may have to make some adaptations to your home in order to create a safe environment and help you continue to function as normally as possible. Simple and quick changes While some home remodeling may…

High blood pressure is the most important preventable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which causes heart attacks and strokes. Many factors can increase a person’s blood pressure, and alcohol has long been known to be one of those controllable factors. It has long been known that heavy drinking can increase blood pressure, but how much is too much? Recent studies are surprising.  Defining terms In the U.S., a standard definition for “a drink” is considered…

Damage to the brain can affect every part of the body since the brain is the body’s control center; the respiratory system, digestive system, central nervous system, circulatory system, muscular system, urinary, and reproductive systems all take their orders, in one manner or another, from the brain. Not all systems are necessarily injured in a stroke, and not all are injured equally, but damage to one part of the body will ultimately cause you to…

Stroke is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in the United States, accounting for 7.5% of all pregnancy-related deaths. A recent major study by JAMA Network suggests that infertility treatments increase that risk. While stroke after infertility treatments remains rare, about 2% of all births in the U.S. involve infertility treatment and women should be aware of all health risks. Study results The study titled “Risk of Stroke Hospitalization after Infertility Treatment” analyzed…

According to the CDC, every 40 seconds someone in the United States has a stroke. Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and the fourth-leading cause of death. These are frightening statistics. Here are some more:  “Time is brain” Neurologists have coined the phrase “time is brain” because of the short window of time that they have to effectively treat stroke patients. The first hour after stroke onset is called “the golden…

Here at Neuralert, we stay on top of developments in the stroke community. When a person is having a stroke, time is critical. Throughout the country, healthcare systems are creating innovative ways to quickly deliver services to stroke patients. One way is through mobile stroke treatment units.   During a stroke, blood flow to the brain is hampered, causing the loss of oxygen to parts of the brain, either due to a blood clot or a…

Under the advice of a doctor, exercise is a very healthy activity that can have tremendous health benefits. Exercise has been found to be beneficial for decreasing the risk of a second stroke in first-time ischemic stroke survivors – unless the level of exercise varies significantly from day to day. A study in Scientific Reports found that post-stroke patients who did not exercise at all had the highest risk of a second stroke, and those…

Taking care of a stroke survivor can be exhausting. The loved one caring for a stroke patient has more stress than the caregiver of most other injuries or illnesses. This is because the stroke patient often experiences cognitive issues, at least in the beginning. Not only does this make communication difficult, but it can cause extra frustration, anger, or depression for the patient who is struggling to be understood, as well as for the loved one…

While it has long been recognized that social environment can have a powerful impact on cardiovascular health and stroke risk, recent attention has been turned to physical and biochemical environment, as well.  Social determinants for health The social determinants for health (SDOH) are those non-medical, social factors that impact health, quality of life, and risk factors for various health conditions. These factors are impacted by economic policies, social norms, and political systems. The top social…

Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability and the fourth-leading cause of death in the U.S. In order to limit and possibly even prevent long-term damage, healthcare professionals must be highly trained, must act quickly, and must coordinate across disciplines in order to provide a full range of care immediately after the stroke and for the hours, days, weeks, and months that follow.  First line of defense The first line of defense is a…

Migraine is the most common neurological disorder in the United States, affecting 10-15% of adults. Stroke is the #1 cause of long-term disability and the #3 cause of death in the U.S. Though stroke and migraine have different root causes, a migraine can sometimes mimic a stroke. Migraine sufferers, who are used to pain, may not recognize stroke symptoms, so it’s important to know the difference in order to seek medical attention; and when in…

The risk of stroke shows great disparity across race in the United States. The discrepancy is not necessarily entirely genetic, as many people have a broad genetic diversity in their background. For this reason, defining race can be a challenge, since the U.S. census allows people to specify their own race and ethnicity. In 2000, there were 126 racial and ethnic categories reported.  However, keeping in mind these limitations, studies are still performed using broader…

All strokes are not alike in symptoms or intensity. While we tend to connect stroke to the most common symptoms of slurring words, drooping face, and weakness on one side of the body, some stroke patients experience more subtle symptoms, and some experience no symptoms at all. This last type of stroke is called a “silent stroke.”  Silent stroke vs. mini-stroke A “mini-stroke” is the common name for a transient ischemic attack (TIA). A TIA…

Of course, no one wants to have a stroke, so it seems odd to suggest you should “prepare” for one. But if you have multiple risk factors or you have had a stroke before, including a TIA (also known as a “mini-stroke”), you need to take precautions in order to get medical attention as soon as possible, in the event of a stroke.  Signs of a stroke Your first and most important step is to…

While strokes and seizures are very different medical events, some of their symptoms overlap, and at first it is not clear which is occurring. But since time is critical when someone is having a stroke, and since seizures can also be very serious medical events, it is best to call 911 as soon as possible when you suspect either a stroke or a seizure. Causes of stroke and seizure A seizure is caused by a…

One of the most distressing results of a stroke is the inability to communicate properly. Because different aspects of speech and comprehension are in different parts of the brain, the location that is damaged from the stroke will determine the effect on communication and its severity. Some stroke patients show no such problems, but many patients do experience issues with speech and comprehension to some degree. Fortunately, many therapies have been developed to help stroke…

Because stroke is caused by a stoppage of blood flow to part of the brain, either by a blood clot or a bleeding blood vessel, symptoms usually do begin suddenly. But every stroke is different. Depending on the type of stroke, the parts of the brain affected, and the severity of the blockage or bleed, it is possible to have early warning signs that come on slowly.  Stroke acronym update Most people have heard the…

Stroke is the #1 cause of disability in America, and the longer it takes to get medical help, the worse the damage the stroke causes. Know the signs of a stroke and seek medical intervention immediately to decrease the risk of long-term disability.  What happens in the first minutes of a stroke Ischemic strokes, which make up 80% of all strokes, are caused by a blood clot in an artery. Hemorrhagic strokes are caused by…

Quality sleep is critical for recovery after a stroke because the brain does much of its repair work during sleep. Disrupted sleep and insomnia are associated with overall slower and less effective recovery. So doing all you can to get a good night’s sleep is imperative to your healing process. But is there such a thing as too much sleep post-stroke?  Post-stroke fatigue is a condition that 40-70% of all stroke patients experience. The range…