Stroke For Dummies

Features tons of advice for recovery and rehabilitation Get the latest on the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of stroke Have questions and concerns about strokes? This reassuring guide provides invaluable information for stroke victims and their loved ones, from what a stroke is and what it feels like to proven treatments and therapies. You'll see how to implement a plan for preventing stroke, treat the lingering effects of stroke, and maximize home caregiver effectiveness while minimizing fatigue. Discover how to: Understand what causes different types of stroke Recognize warning signs Get the most out of doctors and hospitals Speed recovery with the best treatments Help prevent future strokes Decide the best living arrangements after stroke Stroke FOR DUMMIES® 3 About the Author 7 Dedication 9 Author’s Acknowledgments 11 Contents at a Glance 13 Table of Contents 15 Introduction 27 Part I The Brain and Stroke 35 Chapter 1 A Brain Attack 37 Attacking Out of the Blue 38 Recognizing Types of Stroke: Same Symptoms, Different Causes 41 Assessing Stroke Risk 47 Treating Stroke: Fast Response Is Everything 49 Recovering from Stroke 50 Living with Stroke: Reasons for Optimism 52 Chapter 2 Understanding How the Brain Works 55 An Illustrated Tour of Your Brain 56 The Brain’s Roadmaps 60 Fueling the Brain’s Energy Highways 62 Consequences of Gridlock on the Vascular Interstate 64 Medical Technologies for Peering into the Brain 67 Part II Types of Stroke 71 Chapter 3 White Stroke (Ischemic): Blood Clots Block the Brain 73 Getting a Handle on the Jargon 74 How Blood Clots Cause Stroke 75 White Stroke Risk Factors 79 Other Causes of White Stroke 83 How White Stroke Injures the Brain 85 Different Sizes of White Strokes 87 Diagnosing White Stroke 90 Treating White Strokes 91 Chapter 4 Transient Stroke (TIA): Warning Sign 95 Defining Transient Stroke 97 How a Transient Stroke Occurs 98 How to Recognize a Transient Stroke 100 Responding to a Transient Stroke 104 Preventing the “Big One” 106 Answering the Wake-Up Call 108 Chapter 5 Red Stroke (ICH): Bleeding Inside the Brain 111 Why the Brain Bleeds 112 How the Brain Reacts to Blood 118 Treating Brain Hemorrhage in the Hospital 120 Preventing More Red Strokes 125 Chapter 6 Red Stroke (SAH): Bleeding Outside the Brain 127 How SAH Strokes Happen 128 After an SAH Stroke 133 Treating SAH Strokes 136 Predicting SAH Stroke: It’s a Family Affair 142 Chapter 7 Dementia (Vascular Cognitive Impairment) 145 Is There a Bright Side to Stroke Dementia? 146 Small Strokes and Dementia 147 Recognizing Stroke Dementia 149 Diagnosing Stroke-Related Dementia 151 Preventing Stroke Dementia 155 Planning for When You Can’t Remember 157 Part III Preventing Stroke 159 Chapter 8 High Blood Pressure 161 Stalking the Silent Killer 162 Who’s at Risk for High Blood Pressure 166 Lowering Blood Pressure to Reduce Stroke 170 Drugs for Lowering Blood Pressure 172 Chapter 9 Fat and Stroke Risk 177 Fat and the Body 177 Getting to Know the Two Types of Fat: Cholesterol and Triglycerides 179 Fat Transporters: HDL, LDL, and Others 181 Testing for Fat Trouble in Your Body 183 Diet and Cholesterol Control 188 Keeping Fats in Check with Statin Drugs 190 Chapter 10 Other Risk Factors and Prevention 195 Reviewing the Major Risks 196 Tobacco and Stroke 198 Heart and Vascular Disease 201 Controlling Diabetes 205 Fighting Obesity with Diet and Exercise 206 Making a Plan for Reducing Stroke Risk 208 Part IV Treating Stroke 213 Chapter 11 Get Thee to an Emergency Room 215 Recognizing Stroke: Sudden Loss of Brain Power 216 Getting to the Hospital: The EMT Scoop and Run 219 Deciding on a Hospital 221 Advocating for the Stroke Patient in the ER 223 Understanding ER Stroke Strategy 224 Treating White Strokes 227 Treating Red Strokes 229 Chapter 12 Treating Stroke in the Hospital 233 Preventing Further Strokes 234 Monitoring for Brain Swelling 239 Responding to Seizures 240 Other Problems in the Hospital 240 Preparing for Life After Stroke 244 Chapter 13 Rehabilitation 247 Who Should Go to Rehab 248 The Rehab Strategy 250 Meet the Rehab Faculty 254 Paying for Rehabilitation 258 Graduating: Life After Stroke 259 Part V Living with Stroke 261 Chapter 14 Returning Home: Adapting to a New Life 263 Avoid the Three-Stroke Rule 264 Recovering Slowly but Surely 264 Rewiring the Brain 265 New Disabilities Will Affect How You Live 266 Ongoing Medical Therapy 270 Seeing Your Physician 273 Continuing Rehabilitation Therapy at Home 275 Returning to Work 277 Get Organized and Motivated 279 Chapter 15 When You Can’t Go Home Again 283 Coming to Grips with Your Situation 284 Getting Your Game Plan Together 285 Defining Your Care Needs 286 Determining Your Resources 290 Considering Nursing-Home Care 293 Evaluating Assisted-Living Facilities 296 Life in a New “Home” 297 Chapter 16 Challenges During Recovery 301 Muscle Spasticity 302 Depression and Other Psychological Changes 307 Adapting to Driving Limitations 310 Dealing with Incontinence 313 Swallowing Difficulties 317 Chapter 17 Taking Care of Family 319 Stroke Affects Every Type of Family 320 Admitting When the Family Needs Help 323 Taking Care of the Caretaker 325 Pull Together, Not Apart 327 Financial Realities 329 You Can’t Take It with You: Wills and Wishes 331 Part VI The Part of Tens 333 Chapter 18 Ten Ways to Help Your Community Manage Stroke 335 Join a Group for a More Powerful Voice 335 Share Knowledge with Friends and Family 337 Work with Local Hospitals 337 Check into Emergency Medical Services 338 Educate Schoolchildren About Stroke 339 Start Your Own Stroke Recovery Group 339 Suggest News Stories About Stroke Champions 340 Get Your Community to Participate in Stroke Research 340 Chapter 19 Five Remarkable Stroke Recoveries 343 President Woodrow Wilson Overcomes Stroke and Leads a Country 343 Miss America Jacqueline Mayer Discovers a Different Kind of Beauty 345 Composer George Frideric Handel Writes “Messiah” After Stroke 345 Writer Ken Kesey Found TPA the Drug of Choice After Stroke 346 Actress Patricia Neal Recovers to Earn an Oscar Nomination 347 Your Remarkable Stroke Recovery 347 Chapter 20 Ten Opportunities to Prevent Stroke 349 Gathering Information 349 Treating High Blood Pressure 350 Preventing Blood Clot Formation 351 Reducing Cholesterol in Your Blood 351 Treating Atrial Fibrillation 352 Checking Out Your Carotid Arteries 352 Eating Right and Staying Hydrated 353 Stopping Smoking 353 Exercising Your Muscles and Your Brain 353 Writing Up a Maintenance Plan 354 Glossary 355 Index 361 About 700,000 people suffer a stroke every year in the U.S. This plain-English guide addresses the many questions and concerns people have about strokes-from what a stroke feels like as it is happening to what steps should be taken immediately afterwards to the treatments and therapies that are necessary throughout long-term recovery.