The Stroke

act F.A.S.T.

The Video

Causes

Ischemic stroke​

Brain infarction A bloodclot gets stuck in a brain bloodvessel During a stroke a part of the brain doesn’t get enough oxygen

Hemorragic stroke​

Brain bleed A brain bloodvessel bursts and a brain bleed occurs Sometimes caused by a brain aneurysm. A TIA (Transient ischemic attack) is a temporary blockage of a bloodvessel in the brain.

F.A.S.T.

FACE
Ask the person to smile. Does the face drop on one side?
FACE
Ask the person to smile. Does the face drop on one side?
ARMS
Ask the person to raise both arms. Is the person able to raise both arms?
SPEECH
Is speech slurred? Does the person make any sense?
TIME
Call an ambulance immediately!
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How to recognize a stroke?

  • Face

  • Arms

  • Speech

  • Time

 
 

Risk Factors

BEING OVERWEIGHT

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

SMOKING

DIABETES

POOR DIET, NO EXERCISE

mri umente

Diagnosis

  • Patients history
  • CT or MRI
  • CT angiogram, MR Angiogram or conventional angiogram (examination of the brain bloodvessels)

Symptoms

Depends on where the stroke begins in the brain

Face

Drooping on one side of face

Dizzy

Sudden Dizziness or unsteady gait

Numbness

Weakness and or numbness in one side of the body

Vision

Sudden blurry or double vision

Speech

Slurred speech/inability to speak

medicine pills umente

Treatment

Ischemic stroke: 

    • Medication that resolves the bloodclot (trombolysis) -> within 4,5 hours of onset of symptoms
    • Removal of the clot (trombectomy, not yet possible on Curacao)

Hemorragic stroke:
In case of a brain aneurysm:

  • Eliminating the aneurysm with titanium spirals (coiling) (not yet available on Curacao)
  • Eliminating aneurysm surgically In case of a bleeding without an aneurysm: Surgery is not always needed or not always possible. Surgery will not improve neurological disability.
  • Rehabilitation will be necessary for improvement of the complaints. Preventive: Treatment if risk factors, in case of brain infarction also bloodthinning medication is given.