The aftermath of a stroke can sometimes result in permanent disability. Researchers have known for a while that the quick treatment of a stroke can help patients to recover more completely, but this isn’t always the case. Stroke treatment very much remains an individual struggle as some people recover much more thoroughly than others. Some individuals never fully recover after a stroke and require intensive senior care for the rest of their life. Others only need mild in-home care during their recovery process.
Why does this happen? Why do some people recover almost completely when their stroke is immediately treated, but others don’t? That’s a question that doctors and other researchers are now asking.
According to results that were recently presented at the DAWN stroke trial, when a stroke is immediately treated with both mechanical retrieval and medical therapy, rather than just medical therapy, the prospects for a full recovery become much stronger.
In other words, immediate treatment of a stroke is a good thing, but the type of treatment that is given at the hospital also plays a large role in your chances of recovering. In this particular study, the method used was called a mechanical thrombectomy. The study was conducted by University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and took place at several different locations.
Almost half of those individuals that had the thrombectomy showed a good recovery three months after their treatment took place. Only 13 percent of those that had the medical therapy alone administered were showing the same level of recovery. Hopefully, more and more treatment centers will begin using these or similar methods to help stroke victims not just survive a stroke, but to have the best chances of recovery down the road.
The short term outcome was very similar, too. In fact, many patients that had the procedure were able to walk and were safe for discharge within a couple days of treatment. It’s likely that more observations will be needed to draw secure conclusions, but so far, this looks like a very strong method of stroke treatment.
A stroke occurs when oxygen flow is blocked or partially blocked on its way to the brain. The most common type of stroke is ischemic stroke, which happens when a clot blocks an artery that brings oxygen-rich blood to the brain. The type of stroke will determine the course of treatment and the prognosis. This is yet another reason why it is so important that if you suspect a stroke has occurred with someone that you love, you get them help right away. If a stroke does occur, every moment counts.
If you want to give your mom or dad the best chances of a full recovery if they suffer from a stroke, you need to know what the warning signs of a stroke look like. These include sudden confusion, sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, trouble with speaking or understanding speech, or dizziness. If these symptoms occur, contacting emergency services immediately will give your parent a better chance of recovering. It’s always better to be cautious than it is to be too late.
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