Signs of a Stroke
May is Stroke Awareness month! Many people are not familiar with stroke symptoms and fail to seek urgent medical attention. This month is dedicated to raising awareness and educating others so that they feel prepared when respond to someone who may be experiencing a stroke.
Strokes occur when blood from the body can no longer reach the brain. There are two types of strokes: Ischemic (when blood is blocked from entering the brain) and Hemorrhagic (when the vessel that carries blood throughout your brain bursts). If someone is experiencing facial droop, slurred speech, or has weakness or numbness in one arm or leg, they may be having a stroke and need medical attention immediately.
After a Stroke
Even after a stroke, recovery can be a long and difficult road, which may require physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy in order to get the patient back to “normal” function. There may be a number of other conditions present, which may require intervention. Our physicians provide relief to some of the devastating effects occurring after a stroke.
After a stroke, many patients find it difficult to eat normally due to swallowing problems. The process of swallowing is rather complex, requiring the precise coordination of various muscles triggered by sensory feedback. A stroke may cause an imbalance in this process and can lead to aspiration – the leakage of food and/or saliva into the breathing passages. If left untreated, aspiration may lead to life threatening conditions such as pneumonia. Those who do not have a return of normal swallowing function within six months following a stroke, may benefit from a relatively new surgical procedure offered at The Institute for Advanced Reconstruction. Our surgeons, pioneers in stroke treatment, may be able to restore nerve function to the portions of the throat and airway that have lost normal activity. This corrects swallowing difficulties.
One of the most devastating consequences of a stroke is losing the ability to move one side of the body. For stroke patients with arm paralysis that does not resolve on its own, our surgeons offer treatment to reverse the condition.
Some stroke victims may also experience problems with their voice. This is known as vocal cord dysfunction or vocal cord paralysis. We offer microsurgical nerve reconstruction surgery to reverse vocal cord dysfunction following stroke. This pioneering procedure is an option for those experiencing a hoarse or weakened voice.
If you or someone you love is experiencing one of the above side effects of a stroke, please visit our website or call us at 732-741-0970 to schedule a consultation.
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