Stroke does not Discriminate

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Stroke affects people of

All Ages All Ethnic Groups

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All Backgrounds

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Most strokes are preventable, take steps NOW to reduce having a stroke!

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Signs & Symptoms of Stroke

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Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm,

or leg, especially on one side of the body

Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding

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Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

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Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

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Strokes occur in the brain and affect the opposite side of the body

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Risk Factors for Stroke

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Blood Pressure over 120/80?

Smoker exposed to tobacco? Overweight?

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Diabetes?
High Cholesterol? Heart Disease?

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Risk Factors for Stroke

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Family History of Stroke?

Physical activityless than a total of 30

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minutes on most days? Man over age of 45, OR a woman over 55 years of age?

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Risk Factors
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Risk factors you can control:

DIET - How we eat, do we follow our diet? EXERCISE - Do we exercise or get some physical activity? MEDICATIONS - Taking medications correctly SMOKING - Stop smoking

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Once You are at the Hospital

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Diagnostic Testing
CT or MRI of the brain

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EKG

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Carotid Ultrasound
Echocardiogram

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EKG may show atrial fibrillation

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Carotid Ultrasound will show if there is stenosis (narrowing of the blood vessel)
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Echocardiogram detects if any thrombus (blood clot) within the heart chambers
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Chest X-ray
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Blood work - Labs

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Any labs may be ordered, Lipid

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Profile (checking your cholesterol level) is done on all patients.

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Recognize the Symptoms of a Stroke

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3 Simple Questions
Ask the person to smile

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Ask the person to raise both arms Ask the person to say a simple sentence The sky is blue in Boston
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tPA (Tissue Plasminogen Activator)

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is a clot-busting drug
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Ischemic strokes, the most common type of strokes, can be treated with a drug called tPA, that dissolves blood clots obstructing blood flow to the brain.

Medications
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Aspirin Aggrenox
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Plavix
Blood pressure medication

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if appropriate Cholesterol lowering medicines if needed

Hospital Treatment for Stroke

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Medical Management
Dietary Physical & Occupational Therapy Speech Therapy if indicated Nursing

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Hospital Treatment for Stroke

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Rehabilitation
Physical Medicine Consult Determine what type of therapy best for patient

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Rehab Unit Subacute Rehab Extended Care Facility Home Care with PT/OT

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Discharge Planning
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Starts upon admission to the hospital

Consult social worker or care coordinator to help identify discharge needs

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Provide patient/family with Stroke education Stroke Support Group meetings

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THANK YOU.

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