Understanding Stroke and How To Recognize It Can Save Your Life Understanding what stroke is, the signs and signals of a stroke and the rehabilitation process is a goal of the Rehabilitation Center of Thibodaux Regional. At least 550,000 people a year have a stroke; 73 percent survive. Four million Americans are living with the effects of stroke. One-third have mild impairments, another third are moderately impaired, and the remainder are severly impaired. The financial impact of stroke includes more than $30 billion annually in medical care and lost productivity. Types of stroke The main types of stroke include ischemic stroke, caused when a clot blocks a blood vessel in the brain, and hemorrhagic stroke, when there is a bursting forth of blood from a blood vessel. A stroke on the right side of the brain may result in impaired movement on the left side of the body and difficulty with thinking and perceptual tasks. A stroke on the left side of the brain may rsult in impaired movement on the right side of the body and impaired speech and language abilities. A stroke affecting the cerebellum could involve abnormal reflexes of the head and torso, coordination problems, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. A stroke affecting the brain stem may impair life-support functions, such as breathing rate, blood pressure and heartbeat. The rehab process Rehabilitation is a vital process in the recovery of a stroke patient. At the Rehabilitation Center of Thibodaux Regional, more than 80 percent of stroke patients return home. More than three-fourths of patients discharged from rehabilitation programs can walk without assistance and are independent in activities of daily living. Rehabilitation for stroke reduces the cost of nursing home care by $500 million to $1 billion yearly. Rehabilitation focus includes: Increasing self-care skills. Improving psychological adjustment. Improving self-image. Improving mobility, health and independence. Maximizing the ability to enjoy life. Educating the patient and family. Preventing secondary complications. Know the symptoms The signals of stroke are: weakness numbness, or paralysis of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body sudden blurry vision or loss of vision in one or both eyes inability to speak clearly or understand simple statements loss of balance or coordination a sudden severe headache Stroke is a medical emergency, and 911 should be called immediately. For more information about stroke and rehabilitation, call the Rehabilitation Center of Thibodaux Regional, (985) 493-4731. return to health articles