Stroke symptoms and Exercise

Recognizing stroke symptoms is crucial to long term rehab, function and exercise ability.

Stroke is the 3rd leading cause of death in the US and the leading cause of serious long term debility.

Risk Factors

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Smoking (quadruples risk while second hand smoke doubles risk
• Obesity
• Family history of strokes
• Previous strokes or TIA's

All but two of these risk factors can be modified or changed , thus preventing the likelihood of a stroke. Eighty percent of all strokes can be prevented. This is a huge number!

After working 15 years worth of rehabilitating stroke victims, this accident is the number one no-no on my list of medical problems to get! I've seen those with TIA's or mini strokes (only a matter of time till the big one comes). I've seen totally debilitated patients who gain little in the way of function.

The good news outside of prevention is the three hour window of the highly successful, clot busting drug, t-PA. Unfortunately, t-PA can cause dangerous bleeding and can not be used for hemorrhagic strokes (stroke caused by a burst blood vessel(s)) or if the victim fell or suffered trauma during the stroke.

T-PA must be administered within three hours of the first signs of trouble, the sooner the better. Over half of stroke recipients who receive t-PA leave the hospital three months later with little or no disability.

Sounds great doesn't it?! Sadly enough, though, less than 2% of all stroke victims receive this life changing medication.

Why?

1. Many family, friends or bystanders do not recognize stroke symptoms and the need to get help fast.

2. Many people in need of help don't recognize these symptoms and arrive at the hospital too late.

3. Many times, stroke symptoms are hard to identify and can be mis-diagnosed by medical professionals.

4. Only special stroke certified hospitals can treat strokes in this most effective way.

5. Many people will wait to see their primary care doctor instead of seeking a neurologist at a certified stroke center.

All of these instances divert life changing medication within the crucial 3 hour window.

Exercise potential after a stroke can be severely limited compared to the freedom to exercise as part of a lifestyle lived to prevent strokes and other life changing and life threatening diseases.

So, what ARE the symptoms?!

If you or someone nearby experience one or all of these symptoms,

CALL 911

(stay tuned!)