Last Updated on August 26, 2024
A stroke is a medical condition that happens when blood flow to a region in the brain is cut off, thereby, resulting in the damage or destruction of cells.
This may cause death of the brain cells within a few minutes; therefore it is very important to know How to Stop a Stroke in Progress and the information given here can be very helpful in improving the recovery process.
In this article you will learn about the first symptoms of a stroke, what to do first, what treatments are available, time is important, post-stroke treatment, and how to avoid further strokes.
Recognizing the Early Signs of a Stroke
The first thing that any person is required to How to Stop a Stroke in Progress while in the making is the symptoms.
Strokes occur at short notice and their effect is contingent on the areas of the brain that have been impacted. However, some signs are familiar to all and everyone should be careful while encountering them.
The acronym FAST is a simple way to remember the most common symptoms:
- F – Face Drooping: Some of the symptoms include; one side of the face becoming weak and drooping or having a number feeling. If you see this, one has to contemplate How to Stop a Stroke in Progress.
- A-Arm Weakness: A person may feel that one of their arms is paralyzing or even lacks sensation. This is a sign that points to a high risk, and learning how to take hold of a stroke in its early stages in its tracks can save a life.
- S – Speech Difficulty: Some disability considering speaking may be slurred or difficult to comprehend. This, again, goes to demonstrate why it is so important to know How to Stop a Stroke in Progress.
- T – Time to Call Emergency Services: If any of these signs become apparent then one must seek to try and halt the ongoing stroke.
Some of the other signs are sudden confusion, failure to see something in one or both eyes, slurred speech or difficulty in speaking, loss of ability to coordinate movement, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, and worst of all, severe headache no one can explain.
It is important to recognize these symptoms because one must know how to stop a stroke in progress to minimize the effects of the situation or the possibility of death.
Immediate Actions to Take During a Stroke
If you suspect someone is having a stroke, understanding how to stop a stroke in progress by taking immediate action is critical:
- Call Emergency Services Immediately: As soon as use identify the symptoms call the emergency service.
Stating this, understanding how to stop a stroke in progress is by getting help on the way as early as possible. - Keep the Person Calm and Comfortable: To help the victim in need, follow these steps: do not leave the person alone and try to keep him/her as calm as possible until the arrival of emergency services.
This is important as part of the process of how to stop a stroke in progress since stress can worsen the situation. - Monitor the Person’s Symptoms: Monitor the illness of the person and check for any changes that might have occurred.
This information is useful to doctors who understand how to complete a stroke in its mid or halt it when it is ongoing. - Do Not Give Food or Drink: Another characteristic feature of how to stop a stroke in its tracks is not offering the person anything by food and beverages because the individual may be experiencing a condition known as dysphagia.
- Gather Important Information: First if possible, some basic information especially in the medical status of the person should be gathered.
This can be vital in the medical team’s endeavor on how to stop a stroke in progress.
Emergency Treatments to Stop a Stroke in Progress
When the person is admitted at the hospital, various approaches used by doctors in their knowledge of how to stop a stroke in progress will be administered.
The kind of management will depend on if was ischemic or hemorrhagic, that is, if it was caused by a blood clot or breakage of the artery.
Ischemic Stroke
The first one is ischemic stroke this is the most common type of stroke and results from the formation of a blood clot in one of the brain’s vessels.
What it means to stop a stroke in progress here is using a clot-busting drug that is known as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA).
This medication comes with the ability to dissolve the clot and help blood circulation in the desired areas of the brain.
Sometimes, doctors may go for Mechanical Thrombectomy whereby a catheter is used to remove the clot that has formed.
This procedure is another important method that is followed in how to stop a stroke in progress.
Hemorrhagic Stroke
This is a condition that takes place when the blood vessel in the brain bursts and leads to bleeding.
Regarding how to stop a stroke in progress in cases of hemorrhagic strokes, the approach deals with cessation of hemorrhage and management of increased intracranial pressure.
Treatment may involve the use of drugs or other surgical procedures to repair the burst blood vessel or to relieve the pressure that results from the bleeding.
Related: Carotid Artery Disease
The Importance of Time: Acting Quickly During a Stroke
When it comes to the management of a stroke or how to halt a stroke in the process of happening, time is the biggest factor.
If a stroke is left untreated, more and more brain cells die and the condition worsens, which increases a person’s chances of disability or death.
The idea which has to be followed is to reinstate blood flow as soon as possible in the affected area of the brain.
It is approved for only a limited time window which is 3 to 4 hours for ischemic stroke. Data were collected 5 hours after the onset of the symptoms.
For mechanical thrombectomy, the window to conduct the procedure is within 24 hours from the onset of the stroke.
To prevent a stroke in progress one has to be aware of the signs and take the concerned person to the hospital as soon as possible.
Long-Term Care After a Stroke
It is only the first step to address a stroke; the next thing that needs to be done is actually to stop it.
In the case of a stroke, follow-up and treatment which may involve therapy and other forms of care must be provided to help the individual regain as much of their abilities as possible and to reduce the chance of getting another stroke in the future.
It is also important to learn how to stop a stroke from happening while still active but it is also important to know how to proceed with recovery.
Long-term care is care that might entail physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, administering medicine, and altering some aspects of daily life.
Preventing Future Strokes: What You Can Do
After experiencing a stroke, the risk of having another one is higher. However, there are steps you can take to reduce this risk:
- Manage Chronic Conditions: Keeping conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes under control is part of knowing how to stop a stroke in progress.
- Adopt a Healthy Diet: A balanced diet is a preventive measure in how to stop a stroke in progress.
- Exercise Regularly: Regular physical activity is essential in understanding how to stop a stroke in progress and prevent future incidents.
- Avoid Smoking and Limit Alcohol: Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol are crucial steps in how to stop a stroke in progress.
- Take Medications as Prescribed: If your doctor has prescribed medications to reduce stroke risk, taking them as directed is key in how to stop a stroke in progress.
