The value of time makes even more sense in the case of stroke patients. When it comes to effectively minimizing the physical and resulting mental and emotional harm caused by stroke, timing is everything.
Even then, patients and their loved ones who are experiencing stroke symptoms may wait too long to seek treatment. Much worse is rushing to a hospital that lacks the necessary equipment to provide emergency treatment for stroke victims.
According to Dr.Gurneet Singh Sawhney, one of the best neurosurgeon in India, you need to act fast to save the brain.A stroke needs emergency treatment to save the person’s life and improve their chances of successful recovery.
A brain stroke or paralysis may be caused by a narrowing of the blood flow, rupturing of the blood vessel, or a blood clot in the blood vessel. The brain cannot function without oxygen and energy.
When the brain’s blood supply is stopped for more than 3-6 hours, brain cells die. It is vital to maintain a constant and continuous blood supply to the brain to prevent this. When brain cells die, a portion of the brain swells, and if the swelling continues past a certain level, the person’s life is jeopardized.
MRI and scanning aid in identifying various types of strokes and determining their severity. It is possible to provide appropriate treatment once the diagnosis has been made.
Unfortunately, many patients do not arrive at the hospital on time after the stroke, thus preventing them from receiving immediate medical treatment.
Symptoms of stroke:
- Numbness and weakness in the face, arm, and leg
- Unable to speak or understand
- Vomiting, dizziness, unable to maintain balance while walking
- Severe and sudden headache
- Facial deviation
- Sudden loss of vision
If you experience any of these signs, please do not waste any time and go to the nearest hospital, well equipped with facilities for emergency stroke treatment.
Hospitals specializing in stroke care have a trained team to respond quickly and follow a well-defined Stroke Protocol, reducing the time it takes to begin successful treatment.
Immediate treatment after a stroke
After a stroke, getting treatment as soon as possible is essential, and the sooner you get treatment, the more brain you can save. No medical treatment can reverse the effects of a stroke on the brain.
Some individuals may be candidates for thrombolysis and endovascular clot retrieval to help reduce the damage caused by an ischaemic stroke.
Thrombolysis
The administration of rt-PA is known as thrombolysis. rt-PA is a clot-busting medication that dissolves blood clots. It causes the blood supply to the brain to resume.
Endovascular clot retrieval or intra-arterial thrombectomy
Another procedure for restoring blood flow to the brain is endovascular clot retrieval or intra-arterial thrombectomy, which is also used in combination with thrombolysis.
After the brain scan pinpoints the clot, a tiny tube is inserted into the blocked bloodstream, generally through an artery in the leg into the brain. The blood clot is captured by a wire stent or a suction system, which allows it to be pulled out.
Reducing the risk of stroke
Other early treatments to aid the recovery are available. For example, all people who have had a stroke due to a clot should take aspirin after the stroke (ischaemic stroke). Long-term use of aspirin can help avoid another stroke.
Your medical team will collaborate with you to help you recover as quickly as possible. The progress in the first few days after a stroke is different for everybody.
Some people will recover relatively quickly from their stroke, while others will take longer. After a stroke, some people will experience complications, but most people will recover and improve their function.