Stroke: A Life Changing Event
Introduction
According to the American Stroke Association, someone dies every four minutes from a stroke (American Stroke Association, 2014). This can be devastating to the loved ones who survive the victim. Surviving a stroke requires a tremendous amount of therapy and will power to overcome the disabilities and challenges that arise after having a stroke.
The main reason I chose to write about Strokes is because I have lost two important people in my life to complications of a stroke. My paternal grandmother is the first of which who suffered a thromboembolic stroke during a mitral valve replacement surgery, and the other being my maternal great grandmother who suffered and ischemic stroke. Both of these strong women had major deficits including not being able to walk, feed themselves and in the case of my paternal grandmother breathe independently without the use of a ventilator.
Mortality
Unfortunately, Oklahoma doesn’t fare well when it comes to its people having strokes. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), 1,980 people in Oklahoma died of a stroke in 2010 making strokes the fifth leading cause of death in Oklahoma (AHA, 2013). There are many reasons as to why Oklahoma has such a high risk of strokes. Our population enjoys smoking, eating a diet high in fats and being sedentary. Those three things combined are a deadly combination.
Chemicals found in cigarettes cause significant hardening of the arteries which in turn raises blood pressure and increases the risk of having a stroke. When it comes to those fried foods that we all like, there is an excess of cholesterol which clog our arteries making it harder for blood to get to the vital organs. Lastly, when our bodies ...
... middle of paper ...
...ly quit tobacco use and the third is to protect all Oklahomans from exposure to secondhand smoke. (p. 13)
In conclusion, strokes dramatically change the life of not only the person but their entire family. Stroke remains one of the most common ways for a resident in Oklahoma to die. There are many things Oklahomans can do to prevent suffering a stroke but they require great determination to overcome. The risk factors include smoking, eating a diet high in fats and living a sedentary lifestyle are all modifiable risk factors. A significant demographic in Oklahoma is the amount of women. Unfortunately they have a higher risk of dying from a stroke then men do. Healthy people 2020 have set goals to reduce the number of people using tobacco products to better the health of the United States. So, I leave you with this, don’t smoke, exercise daily and skip the fast food.
Stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is blocked or condensed. Blood works to transport oxygen and other beneficial substances to the body’s cells and organs, as well as the brain. There are two main types of strokes that are known as Ischemic strokes and Hemorrhagic strokes. When the blood vessels that provides for the brain becomes congested, is it referred to as ischemic stroke, the most common stroke within adults. Blood clots, a cluster of blood that sticks together, are the cause of Ischemic strokes. Ischemic strokes also takes place when arteries become backed up with plague, leaving less blood to flow. Plague is cholesterol, calcium and fibrous and connective tissue that sticks to the walls of blood vessels. Ischemic strokes eternally damage the brain and cause a person's body to no longer function habitually.Some risk factors that may increase stroke are high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. Some stroke factors are also due to old age or having a family that has a history of strokes. Men are more likely to have a stroke but the most st...
It goes without saying that everyone’s health is important and should be taken care carefully. Everyone has heard of strokes before but many people do not really know its meaning, types, and the number of individuals of that dies due to this issue. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015), strokes kills an average of 130,000 people a year and it is one of the most common deaths that happen in the United States. An average of 800,000 of people die from cardiovascular disease and strokes and it is also a reason of long-term disability (Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). Strokes, which can also be called cerebrovascular accident or CVA happen when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted or the blood vessel going towards the brain burst. Then part of the brain dies or become seriously injured because the brain cells do not receive oxygen and they eventually die. People’s lifestyle may also impact seriously on their health and increase the possibility of having a stroke. Some of the risk that can severely increase the cause of stroke would be high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, cigarette smoking, as well as strokes that
A stroke can happen at any age but for patients who are 55 and older, their risk factor will increase due to age and physical activity. “While stroke is common among the elderly, a lot of people under 65 also have strokes”(“About Stroke” page 1). Also at risk are African Americans because of other health issues that can trigger a stroke, for example: high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. Caucasians and Hispanics are also at. Not only does Ethnicity and age play a factor, but so does other health conditions. Patients who suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, alcohol and drug
Strokes seen in the hospital out of 70 percent of those strokes are ischemic strokes, the remaining 30 percent is a mixture of experiencing a hemorrhagic stroke or transient ischemic attack.
Stroke not only affect the life of the patient but also their significant others, especially the caregiver. Caregiver is identified as the “hidden patient” (Andolstek et al, 1988). Families maintain the primary care responsibility for elderly with chronic illness and disability (Montgomery et al, 1985). The effects of caregiving span across physical health (Grafstrom et al, 1992; Kiecolt-Glasier et al, 1991), mental well-being (Cochrane et al, 1997) and social life (Luterman, D. ,2008; Bakas et al, 2006).
... J. (2009). Heart disease and stroke statistics--2010 updated: a report from the American Heart Association. Journal of the American Heart Association. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.192667
This module has enabled the author to understand the concept of vulnerability, risk and resilience in relation to stroke. Therefore, it will contribute to her professional development and lifelong learning (NES, 2012). Additionally, the author has gained evidence based knowledge of person-centred care, compassion and self-awareness; all of which can be used to inform future practice (Miller, 2008). Consequently, she will be able to provide the appropriate level of care that can make a difference to a person’s recovery.
Stroke survivors or anyone with chronic illness and health providers remain hopeful and “realistic” by counting on each other. The patients while being realistic about the outcome of their disease, stay hopeful that each of their health care providers will give them the appropriate care and will make sure that they can live with their disease in the best way possible.
Stroke has been classified as the most disabling chronic disease, with deleterious consequences for individuals, families, and society1. Stroke impacts on all domains in the ICF. The body dimension (body functions and structures), the individual dimension (activity), and the social dimension (participation). All domains influence each other2.
Cerebrovascular Accident a) Overview - definition and the effects of the stroke on the body A stroke is a serious, life-threatening medical condition that occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. (http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Stroke/Pages/Introduction.aspx) This condition is a common cause of death and disability, especially in older people. Some predisposing factors include: • hypertension • atheroma • cigarette smoking • diabetes mellitus It occurs when blood flow to the brain suddenly interrupted, causing hypoxia. The effects include paralysis of a limb or one side of the body and disturbances of speech and vision.
The animals that stroke primarily affects are humans. This is likely caused by risk factors that humans attain, such as cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, high blood cholesterol, a poor diet, stroke occurring in ancestors, and physical activity/obesity. Stroke has is also starting to become recognized in cats, dogs, and rabbits. According to the World Health Organization, 15 million people suffer from a stroke worldwide every year. Of the people diagnosed, 5 million die and 5 million are permanently disabled. In the United States, 795,000 suffer from stroke annually. 85 percent of the diagnosed strokes are ischemic and 15 percent of them are hemorrhagic As for the humans diagnosed, three fourths of the people that suffer from a stroke are elderly (over the age of 65). This is caused by raising cholesterol levels and the narrowing of arteries as someone ages. Ethnicity, as well as age can also affect a person’s risk to fall victim to a stroke. Africans have a much higher risk of death from a stroke than Caucasians do. This is partly because blacks have greater risks of high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. Research suggests Africans may carry a gene that makes them more salt sensitive, inevitably increasing the risk of high blood pressure. Fortunately, research is still being done to prevent stroke. Rats and mice are primary animal subjects for studying this deadly
Stroke is a serious medical condition that affects people of all ages specifically older adults. People suffer from a stroke when there is decreased blood flow to the brain. Blood supply decreases due to a blockage or a rupture of a blood vessel which then leads to brain tissues dying. The two types of stroke are ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. An ischemic stroke is caused by a blood clot blocking the artery that brings oxygenated blood to the brain. On the other hand, a hemorrhagic stroke is when an artery in the brain leaks or ruptures (“About Stroke,” 2013). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of adult disability” (“About Stroke,” 2013). Stroke causes a number of disabilities and also leads to decreased mobility in over half of the victims that are 65 and older. The CDC lists several risk factors of stroke such as heredity, age, gender and ethnicity as well as medical conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and excessive weight gain that in...
My grandfather's stroke affected his legs and his memory, which made it difficult for him to walk. My grandfather first used a cane, but his legs became too weak, so he tried a walker, but this lasted only a month. Not only could he not walk or take care of himself, but also he began to stay up at night and fall out of bed.
Tobacco use causes a number of diseases. Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, and causes lung diseases. Tobacco can lead to someone losing limbs and...
In the United States, an estimated 25.6 million men and 22.6 million women are smokers. These people are at higher risk of heart attack and stroke. The latest estimates for persons age 18 and older show: