What is a stroke

Imagine this: you are talking to a friend and suddenly he starts speaking incoherently. One corner of his mouth hangs, and when he tries to lift his arms, it doesn't work very well. What do you do? These can be the first signs of a stroke, and in such a situation every second counts. The sooner you act, the better your chances of recovery. This blog tells you what a stroke is, how to recognize its symptoms and what to do when it happens.

What is a stroke?

A stroke, also called a Cerebro Vascular Accident ( CVA ), is an acute and serious condition in which part of the brain is suddenly deprived of oxygen. This can cause certain brain functions to fail. A stroke is the umbrella term for a cerebral infarction (a TIA is part of this) or a brain hemorrhage.

Brain Attack

In a cerebral infarction, a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked by a blood clot. This means that the part of the brain normally supplied by this blood vessel no longer receives oxygen and therefore does not function properly. This is the most common type of stroke.

Brain Hemorrhage

In a brain hemorrhage, a blood vessel in the brain ruptures, causing blood to pool in the surrounding tissue. This causes extra pressure and a lack of oxygen in that area, which can lead to serious damage to brain cells. Because of this high pressure in the brain, this can cause the brain stem to become compressed. The brainstem is where your respiratory center is located, and too much pressure can cause that part to fail.

How do you recognize a stroke?

When treating a stroke, every second counts. The sooner symptoms are recognized, the sooner treatment can begin and the greater the chance of recovery. An easy way to remember the main symptoms of a stroke is the FAST test.

Face: ask the victim to smile at you. Does the victim have a crooked mouth?

Arm: ask the victim to lift their arms. Is one of the arms left behind?

Speech: is the victim not coming out of his words well? Does the victim sound different than usual?

Time: If you answered "yes" to one (or more) of the above questions, you may have had a stroke. Determine the time when the symptoms started and immediately call 911.

Another mnemonic you can remember is: mouth-speech-arm: stroke-alarm.

Mouth: ask the victim to smile at you. Does the victim have a crooked mouth?
Speech: is the victim not coming out of his words well? Does the victim sound different from normal?
Arm: ask the victim to lift their arms. Is one of the arms left behind?

With at least one of these complaints, immediate action should be taken: establish the time when the symptoms started and call 911 immediately if possible.

A brain hemorrhage can present itself the same as a cerebral infarction. However, victims may have different symptoms:

Impaired consciousness,
Sudden, arising, severe headache combined with nausea and vomiting.

What should you do in the event of a stroke?

In a stroke, every second counts. The sooner a person receives medical attention, the greater the chance of recovery. In doubt? Always call 911.

Be sure to seek medical attention immediately and try to remember or write down when the symptoms began. Stay with the victim and reassure him or her until emergency workers arrive. Every minute without treatment can make brain damage worse. By acting quickly, you can make a difference in limiting further brain damage, thereby increasing the chances of a better recovery. Know what to do, because "Time is brain!

Would you also like to take a course with a focus on life-saving action? Then take a First Responder Training and First Aid course!

Video

Want to learn even more about stroke or don't feel like reading? Then watch this video from the University of the Netherlands with our own medical director Bernard Leenstra!