What exactly is a stroke and what are the symptoms of stroke in elderly
Strokes are a terrifying thing that I hope no one has to ever go through, however it is very natural and if you have not had one, there is a good chance you know at least one other person that has had one. And the other person, it most likely is an older person. A stroke is classified as a disease that occurs when a blood vessel to the brain is blocked or burst, when this happens, part of the brain is unable to get the required blood and oxygen required to survive and the brain cells will die. So in order to prevent the harmful effects of stroke as effectively as possible, we put together this article about symptoms of stroke in the elderly.
To be more specific, there are a few different types of strokes, but they all have the same effects. An ischemic stroke is caused when arteries to the brain are clogged usually by a blood clot. These are the most common type of stroke at it accounts for 85% of all strokes.
There are also hemorrhagic strokes which happen when arteries in the brain begin to leak and bleed into the brain. Surgery is required to deal with this type of stroke as the arteries must be repaired and the blood must be drained quickly.
Finally, the last type of stroke is a transient ischemic attack, which is often referred to as a mini-stroke. They are very similar to ischemic strokes, but are only temporary but can lead to a major stroke. When a stroke occurs, it is of the utmost importance to retrieve the person proper medical services to lessen the damage of the stroke.
Factors of a stroke
Strokes are a scary thing that can happen to anyone, however, there are some things that make strokes more common. Research shows that after the age of 55, the likelihood of a stroke occurring double ten years. This means a 95-year-old has a 16 times higher chance of having a stroke compared to a 55-year-old. It was proven that about 50% of all strokes occur in people over the age of 75. However, interestingly enough, women are more likely to have a stroke and therefore more women are killed by strokes than men.
As previously mentioned, strokes are naturals and sometimes there is nothing to prevent them. However, in general being healthier may decrease the chance of having a stroke. For example, if you have high blood pressure, obesity and continue to have a poor diet, you are more likely to experience a stroke.
One study says that the use of drugs such as cocaine can increase your risk for a stroke. And conversely, having sufficient physical activity can decrease your risk of having a stroke, which the American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes a week. It is recommended to stop smoking and eat healthy foods that are low in cholesterol and saturated fats and with a wide variety of fruits and vegetables every day.
It actually turns out, high blood pressure is the most impactful risk factor for a stroke that you can control and deal with. So if an elderly person has high blood pressure, refer them to a doctor to keep their blood pressure in a healthy range to decrease the chances of a stroke.
As mentioned before there are just some things you can’t change that affect your chance for risk such as age. But other things like your family history and your race can play a large role in your risk factor. For example, African-Americans have a higher risk of dying from a stroke compared to Caucasians. And of course, if you have ever experienced a stroke or a heart attack before you have a much higher chance of experiencing a stroke than if you had never had one.
Symptoms of Strokes
There can be many signs of a stroke, but it is very important to recognize that a person is experiencing a stroke. A common saying used to help an individual deal with someone having a stroke is B.E. F.A.S.T.
B – Loss of balance.
E – Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes.
F – Face drooping, is a very common sign in which a side of a person’s face may appear to droop or be numb.
A – Arm weakness also occurs in which the victim will even have trouble keeping both their arms elevated.
S – The victim may experience Speech difficulties such as slurring and unable to say simple words
T – The last step is to call 911 as if the possible victim is experiencing any of these symptoms the person could be experiencing a stroke.
FAST covers the major symptoms of a stroke but there are numerous other symptoms, this could include numbness of one side of body in anything from the face to the legs, confusion and struggling to understand conversations, problems with sight with one or both eyes, dizziness leading to a loss of balance, and a sudden headache with no clear reasoning behind it.
These are the clear scientific symptoms that are widely accepted. Some people also report having double vision, sudden drowsiness which often leads to nausea and vomiting. As people age, there are not different symptoms that elderly people may experience that younger people may not. In fact, the symptoms of a stroke are very variable is a case by case basis even if it occurs multiple times to the same person. For example, a stroke may be very serious or it could be a mini-stroke which seems to be common in people that have already experienced one stroke before.
However, no matter the severity of a stroke, you should never ignore any warning sign. But like always, it is important to act F.A.S.T. and help anyone experiencing a stroke to proper medical attention.
Effects of a stroke
As the brain is a very complex organ and the part of the brain effectively dies when a stroke occurs, there is a numerous different effect on the body depending on where the stroke exactly is located.
There are a few general effects of a stroke such as trouble speaking, or pain, and some people feel depressed after experiencing a stroke. As part of the brain controls part of the body is actually on the other side of the body, you can experience paralysis on one side of your body. For example, if the stroke occurs on the right side of the brain the left side of the body may become paralyzed. Then are some specific effects, in general depending on the side of the brain the stroke happens on.
For instance, if it happens on the left side of the brain the victim may experience speech-language problems and become a more slow/careful person. On the other side, the right side of the brain specifically, a stroke may cause vision problems and make the person a more quick/curious person. That is right, a stroke can change a person’s behavior style dramatically. No matter where the stroke occurs, the person is very likely to experience memory loss.
Now that we covered the left and right side of the brain, the only other place the stroke can occur is in the lower part of the brain, the brain stem. This can be a very serious stroke in which it can affect both parts of the body, unlike the singular but opposite part of the upper half of the brain, has a chance of making the victim unable to speak or achieve any movement below the neck and the person experiences dizziness and vertigo. This is because the brain stem actually controls the basic parts of the body such as consciousness and breathing.
Shockingly, a person may recover from a brain stem stroke as they don’t affect their language abilities and the dizziness resolves after a few weeks. Of course, this has been a long list of effects of a stroke, but every stroke is different in its symptoms and its effects. Instead of complete paralysis, a person may experience some weakness that can be resolved in therapy. Drugs and physical therapy is the path most people take to recovery. Some people make a full recovery relatively quickly after a stroke, some take months or years, and sadly, some people may never recover from a serious stroke.
Final thoughts: Symptoms of stroke in elderly
So overall, strokes are a very serious event that should not be taken lightly. If you notice any symptoms of a stroke in a person, especially an elderly person, you should immediately call an ambulance and medical services to ensure the person can survive and continue to live a happy, long-lasting life.
An interesting statistic is that 80% of strokes are preventable, so it is always best to be healthy in the first place and be proactive in preventing strokes. Remember, strokes can happen at any time, and as such, it is always best to be prepared for the worst.