Education

 

Strokes can happen to anybody.

It doesn't matter if you have a pre-existing condition or if you're an athlete. Being prepared is the first step in the right direction.

  • 795,000+/- strokes happen per year

  • 185,000+/- strokes are reoccuring

  • 85%+/- strokes are ischemic

  • 10-40% of ischemic strokes are cryptogenic

  • 8%+/- of strokes result in central poststroke pain (CPSP) syndrome

  • 3%+/- of strokes happen in the cerebellum

Signs of a stroke may include:

  • Sudden numbness or weakness of the body, especially on one side.

  • Sudden vision changes in one or both eyes, or difficulty swallowing.

  • Sudden, severe headache with unknown cause.

  • Sudden problems with dizziness, walking, or balance.

  • Sudden confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding others.

Call 911 immediately if you notice any of these symptoms!

 

B.E. F.A.S.T.

  • Balance /dizziness

  • Eyes issues

  • Face drooping

  • Arm weakness

  • Speech difficulty

  • Time to call 9-1-1

Two major kinds of a stroke: Ischemic and Hemorrhagic; there also a third, Transient ischemic attack (TIA), known as a ministroke

Strokes are the leading cause of permanent disability in the U.S., striking nearly 800,000 people each year. Hemorrhagic, or bleeding, stroke is particularly devastating, says Mayo Clinic neurologist and critical care expert Dr. William D. Freeman. "About 40 percent of hemorrhagic stroke patients die within a month, and half of the survivors have some type of impairment," he adds.

Brain

  • One of the most important organs in the body*

  • Dividend into 3 parts:

    1. Forebrain

    2. Brainstem

    3. Hindbrain

  • Largest brain of all vertebrates relative to body size*

  • Weighs ~3.3 lbs. (1.5 kilograms)

  • Makes up ~2% of a human's body weight

  • Makes up 85% of the brain's weight

  • Contains about 86 billion nerve cells (neurons) — the "gray matter"

  • Contains billions of nerve fibers (axons and dendrites) — the "white matter"

  • ~20% of the blood flowing from the heart is pumped to the brain*

  • Uses 20% of all the oxygen we breathe

Cerebellum

  • Means "little brain"*

  • Located at the base of the skull and it's primarily involved in coordination, balance and motor actions

  • Contains half of all the neurons in the brain but comprises only 10% of the brain

  • Regulates and coordinates movement, posture and balance, including learning movement

  • One of the most identifiable parts of the brain due to its unique shape and location*

  • Extremely important for being able to perform everyday voluntary (done with purpose and intent) tasks such as walking and writing

  • Essential to being able to stay balanced and upright