Do Not Ignore The Signs (My Experience of a Stroke)

Member Name: bluenovember

Product:	My Experience of a Stroke
Date:	16/12/04 (1418 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Can be recoverable

Disadvantages: Can leave sufferer with physical/memory problems, Can lead to a full stroke or heart attack

My mum was 57 when she had her first mini stroke in 1990. She had driven to Salisbury to visit some friends. Whilst there she collapsed and was taken to hospital. The doctors umm’d over what was wrong. It was like a stroke, but the symptoms weren’t consistent to what they usually looked for. The words ‘mini stroke’ was mentioned, but it was something that they didn’t have much, or any, experience with.

My mum doesn’t remember much that day – she sort of remembers driving, but that’s it. One symptom on that day was that she had a memory loop. One minute she would be talking to us and feeling reassured about what was going on, the next she would be panicking and didn’t know what was happening. Quite unnerving was the fact that the doctors, at that time, couldn’t reassure us of her recovery. It was about ten years later when she had the next one.

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What Is A TIA, A Ministroke?
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According to the NHS Direct Online Health Encyclopaedia:
‘A transient ischaemic attack (TIA) is a temporary period of disturbance of body function, such as loss of vision or balance, lasting for less than 24 hours. It results from a temporary reduction in blood and oxygen supply to part of the brain.’

The Stroke Association says:
‘ ‘Mini-stroke’ is the term that is sometimes given to a mild stroke that recovers very quickly, although not as quickly as a TIA. The advice given for TIA…is equally true for mini-strokes. Seek medical attention as quickly as possible.’

The symptoms of a TIA are similar to a normal stroke:
* Loss of consciousness
* Loss of power on one side of the body
* Partial loss of power and sensation
* Confusion
* Double vision and dizziness (vertigo) are also common symptoms

There is rarely any pain associated with these symptoms.

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What Causes A TIA?
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‘Normal blood supply to the brain can be obstructed by fatty deposits carried in the bloodstream (an embolus) or by clotting of blood in an artery. It is often called a ‘mini-stroke’. A TIA becomes a full stroke if it lasts longer than 24 hours.’

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What Should You Do If Someone Has A TIA?
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‘Around 30,000 people a year in the UK experience a TIA – that is one person in every 2,000. Transient ischaemic attacks must always be taken seriously, as they are a clear warning that further TIAs, or even a life-threatening stroke, may occur soon. A second mini-stroke often causes more damage than the first. Without treatment, one in ten people who have had a TIA will have a full stroke within the next year. TIAs should therefore always be investigated, the cause found, and, where possible, treated.’

Because of the nature of the stroke, the sufferer will be very tired, almost to the point of exhaustion. They may even feel very cold. If you notice that someone has the symptoms of a TIA:
* Make sure that the patient is sitting down
* Do not try and make them talk if they are tired. A stroke can leave a patient mentally exhausted
* Call for a doctor immediately so they can assess the severity of the symptoms
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What Happens Next?
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You will be referred to a specialist who will arrange for you to have some or all of the following tests:
* Blood pressure measurements
* Blood tests to check clotting, sugar and cholesterol levels
* An ECG to check for any unusual heart rhythms
* A chest x-ray to check for any other problems
* A CT head scan to check for any bleeding
* An ultrasound to check blood flow
* An echocardiogram to check for various heart diseases

If the diagnosis is that you have had a TIA, then you will be prescribed a least one of the medications to treat the symptoms that seem to put you most at risk. Your diet and lifestyle will also be assessed in order to reduce the risk of another TIA or stroke. (See below)

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How Can You Reduce The Risk Of A Stroke?
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The risk factors of a stroke are:
* Age
* Genetics
* African Caribbean
* High blood pressure (hypertension)
* Diabetes
* TIA
* Heart disease/atrial fibrillation
* Snoring
* Contraception
* HRT
* Smoking
* Obesity
* Alcohol

The best way of reducing the chances of a stroke/TIA are:
* Not smoking
* Regular exercise
* A balanced diet (low fat)
* Drinking moderately

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Further Information
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The NHS website about strokes is:
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/selfhelp/conditions/s trokes/strokes.asp

The Stroke Association website is:
http://www.stroke.org.uk
The Stroke Association are a registered charity.

The Stroke Association Helpline is:
0845 30 33 100 – you will be charged at UK local rates.

Information in this review comes from the NHS Direct website and The Stroke Association website.

Summary: