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Contact Us

300 S. Prairieville St
PO Box 991
Athens, TX 75751

Toll Free: 877-596-3500
Phone: 903-677-3500
Fax: 903-677-4700

Office Hours:
M-F 9am - 4pm

Stroke

Our services may include but are not limited to:

• In-home Monitoring of PT/INR
• Muscle Strengthening
• Dysphagia Management
• Supportive Care Education of
• Disease Process
• Individual and Family Counseling
• Observation and Assessment
• Home Safety and Emergency Education
• Medication and Nutrition Education
• Assistance with ADLs
• Restorative Therapy (Physical, Occupational and Speech)

What is a stroke?
A stroke or “brain attack” occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery or a blood vessel breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in America and the No. 1 cause of adult disability. Up to 80 percent of strokes are preventable.

What are the risk factors?

• Over the age of 55
• Male
• Being African American, Hispanic, or Asian/Pacific Islander
• Family history of stroke
• Having suffered a previous stroke

Risk factors that can be controlled include:

• High blood pressure
• Atrial Fibrillation
• Carotid or other artery disease
• Other heart disease
• Sickle cell disease
• Poor diet
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Tobacco use/smoking
• Alcohol use
• Obesity/excessive weight

What causes a stroke?
There are 2 main types of strokes.

Ischemic Stroke – occurs when blood clots or fatty deposits block blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. Blockages may form in or near the brain. Or, clots may form elsewhere in the body and travel to the brain.

Causes include:

• Buildup of fatty deposits (plaque) in arteries of the neck.
• Heart conditions that lead to clot formation.
• Sickle Cell Anemia and other blood disorders that promote clotting.

Hemorrhagic (Bleeding) Stroke – results from a ruptured blood vessel inside the brain or on the brain’s surface. When a vessel ruptures, the blood supply to brain cells is cut off. In addition, pooling blood from the rupture can damage brain tissue.

Causes include:

• High blood pressure, which weakens blood vessels
• Hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis), which makes vessels less flexible
• Aneurysm, a weak spot in a vessel wall that can rupture
• A head injury

What are symptoms of stroke?
Stroke symptoms include sudden:

• Numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg — especially on one side of the body.
• Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
• Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
• Severe headache with no known cause.

Learn to recognize a stroke because time lost is brain lost.

How can I detect stroke?
This simple test will help you detect stroke symptoms and act F.A.S.T.
F=Face. Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A=Arm. Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S=Speech. Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?
T=Time. If you observe any of these signs, call 9–1–1 or get to the nearest stroke center or hospital.

What is a warning stroke?
A transient ischemic attack is a «warning stroke» or «mini stroke» that produces stroke-like symptoms but no lasting damage. Recognizing and treating TIAs can reduce your risk of a major stroke. The usual TIA symptoms are the same as those of stroke, only temporary.

What can you do to help prevent a stroke?

• Know your risk factors.
• Have regular check-ups.
• Stay active.
• Eat a healthy diet, including vegetables, fruits, unrefined whole-grain foods, and fish.
• Exercise every day (get approval from doctor).
• Know your blood pressure.
• Take medications as prescribed.
• Stop smoking.

How can you treat a stroke?
Depending on the cause, some treatments may include:

• Surgery (for tumor hemorrhage, etc.) or other life-preserving action.
• Drugs to treat acute stroke and help prevent future strokes.
• Special diet and drugs to deal with accompanying problems.

After a stroke, rehabilitation will begin soon after. There are many rehabilitation services that will be offered depending on which type of stroke occurred. Some of the rehabilitation services include physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy.

Source:
www.strokeassociation.org
www.stroke.org