Stroke Results & Recovery

According to the American Stroke Association, stroke is the third leading killer in the United States, after heart disease and cancer. The condition is often treatable, which may require lifestyle modifications to eliminate or reduce risk factors like smoking.

Stroke Definition

• A stroke results when the brain begins dying after it's starved of required oxygen transported by the blood. This happens when a clot restricts blood flow to the brain or a blood vessel that supplies the brain bursts.

Symptoms

• Signs of a stroke include headache, numbness or paralysis that affects only one side of the body, and difficulty seeing, speaking or walking.

Complications

• The aftermath of a stroke may include complications like memory loss, pain, paralysis, poor conceptual comprehension, reduced muscle functioning, social difficulties and problems speaking or swallowing.

Treatment

• Receiving immediate medical attention for a stroke is essential. Treatment options include drugs (aspirin or injected tissue plasminogen activator) and surgery to unclog an artery or remove a bulging artery (aneurysm).

Rehabilitation

• Successful recovery depends on the amount of damaged tissue and the affected area. Rehabilitation often involves working with therapists to improve physical and mental side effects, such as mobility problems, speech difficulties, depression, frustration and feeling helpless.