Be in the Know About Stroke

World Stroke Day is Oct. 29. In recognition of this day, our team of in-home care providers at Qualicare wants you to know what steps you can take to help prevent a stroke from occurring in your loved one—and what to do if one occurs.

Get the Facts on Stroke

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 15 million people worldwide experience a stroke in a given year.

There are a number of risk factors associated with stroke, including:

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Smoking
• Advanced age
• Family history of stroke
• Personal history of stroke
• Brain aneurysms

Although some of these aforementioned risk factors cannot be changed, there are a number of factors that can be controlled. Therefore, it is important to do what you can to help your loved one reduce the risk of stroke.

High Blood Pressure

If your loved one has been diagnosed with high blood pressure, it is important to take medication as directed.

However, there are also other ways to lower blood pressure, such as by maintaining a healthy weight, exercising on a regular basis and practicing stress management techniques like yoga.

Smoking

If your loved one is a current smoker, it’s time to put away the cigarettes! While some people are able to quit smoking cold turkey, others search for support in quitting. It doesn’t matter how a person quits smoking, just that they do!

Diabetes

Diabetes management plays an important role in improving overall health and quality of life. Make certain your loved one is following a healthy diet, as well as monitoring blood sugar levels on a daily basis.

Know the Signs

It is critical to act fast when a stroke occurs, as time matters in reducing the risk of lasting effects from a stroke. Therefore, if you recognize the signs of a stroke in your loved one, seek emergency medical care immediately.

Signs of a stroke include:

• Numbness on one side of the body
• Trouble speaking, understanding speech or confusion
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Trouble walking, loss of balance and dizziness
• Severe headache

Are you looking for additional care for your loved one? Contact our in-home care providers at Qualicare to learn how we can help!