To provide first aid for a stroke, it is necessary. What kind of care should you provide to stroke victims yourself? What to do if you lose consciousness

– a disease that strikes suddenly. Every year it gets “younger”: more and more often you can meet patients with this diagnosis who have recently crossed the twenty-five-year mark. Until recently, it was considered a disease of middle age, and cases when people fell ill at the age of about thirty were extremely rare.

Today, stroke is the fifth leading cause of death. However, more terrible are the consequences of this disease, which can last for many years, turning a cheerful, yesterday absolutely healthy person into a disabled person who cannot do without outside help.

Mistaking a person having a stroke for a drunk, passers-by go about their business, but knowing the primary signs and responding to the situation in a timely manner can save the person’s life and prevent serious complications. The more time passes from the onset of an attack to the provision of first aid, the more severe the consequences will be for the body.

A stroke occurs when blood stops flowing to an area of the brain due to a blood clot forming, blocking blood flow and oxygen to the brain. Due to lack of oxygen, gradual cell death begins, which affects the structure of the cerebral cortex and mental activity.

Timely assistance reduces possible irreversible consequences, but not everyone can recognize a stroke, and few know how to properly provide first aid before the ambulance arrives.

Main causes of stroke

Any disease is easier to prevent than to treat. Therefore, you need to be more attentive to your health and undergo a preventive examination. Like any other disease, a stroke has “precursors” that tell the body that it is necessary to take preventive measures or undergo treatment.

There is a reason to see a doctor if:

frequent feeling of weakness, fatigue quickly sets in;
suffer from attacks of severe headache;
numbness of the hands is periodically felt;
sudden dizziness;
there are sudden disturbances in orientation in space;
difficulties with speech, sometimes it is impossible to remember familiar words;
lack of concentration at the right time.

These symptoms do not necessarily mean that a stroke is coming. They may indicate circulatory disorders and be associated with vegetative-vascular dystonia and a number of other diseases:

traumatic brain injury;
diabetes mellitus (diabetic coma);
poisoning with toxic substances or alcohol;
various brain tumors, etc.

In any case, this is a reason to once again consult a doctor and completely check the condition of the body in order to identify violations in its functioning.

How to recognize a stroke

The first signs that indicate poor circulation and indicate the likelihood of a stroke:

loss of consciousness or state of “stupefaction”;
drowsiness or sudden agitation;
rapid heartbeat and dizziness;
increased sweating, nausea, and in some cases vomiting;
possible disturbance of orientation in space;
visual disturbances, loss of sensitivity, articulation disorders.

If a stroke is suspected, there is a special technique that allows even a non-specialist to identify the disease based on the most common signs.

Ask the patient to extend their hands towards you with palms facing up. During a stroke, one will go down or to the side.
Ask the patient to raise both arms above their head at the same time. In the patient they will rise at different speeds and to different heights.
Ask to show your tongue. In the patient, it will be bent or turned to the side.
Offer to repeat a simple phrase after you or identify yourself. If you speak like a drunk or have impaired articulation, this is a clear sign of a stroke.
Ask the patient to smile and show his teeth. A twisted smile, more like a grimace, indicates a stroke.

The presence of these signs (not necessarily all) is a reason to call emergency help or, if possible, quickly take the patient to a doctor.

Priority measures

Regardless of where the patient had a stroke - on a park bench, in a house, in an underground passage or on a lawn, the actions of those around him must obey a strict algorithm that will help reduce the consequences of a stroke:

Remain calm yourself and help the patient, if he is conscious, to calm down. Convince him that nothing bad is happening.
Check your general condition: breathing, pulse, consciousness; If possible, measure your blood pressure;
Determine the signs of a stroke: the presence of seizures, facial distortion, speech impairment, etc.
Call an ambulance.
Lay the patient on his back or side, slightly raising his head and torso, or horizontally. If signs of nausea occur, turn your head to the side.
Before the doctors arrive, provide first aid and, if necessary (lack of breathing, dilated pupils, weak heartbeat), perform resuscitation: artificial respiration, chest compressions.
Make sure that there is no lack of oxygen: open a window or vent, unfasten your collar or belt.
Observe the changes occurring in the patient's body.

This is a general algorithm of actions that will reduce the risk of death before the arrival of professional doctors. The first three hours from the onset of an attack are the most important. The quality of life after recovery depends on the correct assistance provided.

Detailed description of all emergency steps

Each case of stroke may be accompanied by different symptoms. There are two types of stroke: ischemic and hemorrhagic. When providing first aid, it is important to consider the type of illness.

Ischemic stroke:

occurs at night or early morning;
the patient is conscious, the disturbances are moderate;
there are speech impairments, weakness in the limbs on one side, and a distortion of the face;
no convulsive syndrome.

In this case, first aid is provided according to the standard method described above, and has no special features.

Hemorrhagic stroke:

appears suddenly, against the background of physical or emotional overload;
there is confusion or fainting;
convulsions are present;
severe tension in the muscles of the back of the head, it is impossible to move the head;
significant increase in blood pressure.

In case of hemorrhagic stroke, it is imperative to position the head so that it is elevated and above the body.

You need to apply ice to your head. It is better if to the half in which the hemorrhage occurred - this is the side opposite to the tense one.

Severe stroke

In severe forms of stroke, swelling of the brain may occur, causing fainting, convulsions, dilated pupils, and absence of heart rhythm - clear signs of clinical death.

For emergency help in this case you need:

Place the patient on his back on something hard.
Turn his head to the side, clear his mouth of mucus and remove dentures (if any) from his mouth.
Throw his head back.
Grab the corners of the lower jaw with both hands, try to push it forward and open the patient’s mouth with your thumbs.
Perform mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration: cover the patient’s lips with a cloth and take two deep breaths.
Indirect cardiac massage: place your hands on top of each other, interlocking your fingers. Place your lower palm at the junction of the lower and middle parts of the sternum, and rhythmically perform about 100 pressures per minute. Every 30 compressions, take 2 breaths of artificial respiration.

You need to continue actions until the ambulance arrives.

Use of medications

In some cases, if the patient is conscious, medications can be used. But only if for some reason it is not possible to quickly deliver the patient to the clinic. It is better if these are intravenous injections of drugs that can support brain cells: piracetam, thiocetam, nootropil, actovegin, cortexin, furosemide, lasix, etc.

What not to do if you have a stroke

In case of a stroke, first of all, you should not panic. If, based on primary signs, you suspect that you are developing a stroke, inform those around you. They must call an ambulance immediately.

To reduce the load on the body, there is no need to make unnecessary movements, turn or move the patient.

A stroke attack is always accompanied by severe neurological symptoms, so a person is completely dependent on doctors. Under no circumstances should you hope that it will “go away on its own.”

You should not take drugs that have a vasodilating effect - papaverine, drotaverine. Their mechanism of action promotes the expansion of healthy areas of blood flow, which creates a significant load on already damaged areas and aggravates the situation.

It is not advisable to give food or drink: when someone loses consciousness, attacks of vomiting often occur, which is why the patient may choke on vomit.

Effectiveness of first aid

According to statistics, if first aid is provided in a timely manner and the patient is admitted to the clinic in the first three hours after the onset of the disease:

in 50-60% of cases, patients with severe forms of stroke survive;
in 75-90% of cases, patients who have suffered a mild form of stroke recover completely;
in 60-70% of cases, the abilities of brain cells are completely restored.

Timely and correctly provided first aid contributes to the rapid restoration of body functions after illness. A stroke is a case when every minute gained from an attack is a chance to preserve certain body functions. Stopping damage to brain cells in a timely manner allows you to preserve your quality of life as much as possible.

If you notice in time some obvious signs characteristic of a stroke, you can significantly gain time and take the patient to the hospital to provide qualified assistance.

Important information

A stroke does not develop out of nowhere; it is always foreshadowed by something. Its onset may be signaled by the following symptoms: weakness, nausea after sleep, blurred vision (points in front of the eyes), changes in body temperature, sudden fatigue that has no objective causes, headaches, dizziness, migraines, changes in blood pressure.

The first signs of a stroke (classic signs):

loss of consciousness (sudden), after which a person cannot regain consciousness for a long time, and if he can be brought back to his senses, then other symptoms from the list are observed;
unclear speech, inability to explain or perceive information, lack of coordination;
sudden deterioration of vision;
facial asymmetry, which can be recognized by a crooked smile (the corner of the mouth or the upper eyelid is completely drooping) of the patient;
weakness in the limbs is expressed by the inability to perform movements, usually affecting one side of the body.

It is the presence of these symptoms together that indicates the onset of a stroke. There is a tactic for recognizing the onset of this state, which is called “strike”:

The signs of a stroke do not always appear clearly; they can be delayed over time. It depends on the type - ischemic or hemorrhagic.

An ischemic stroke is characterized by stopping blood flow in a certain area of the brain with tissue damage. This type usually develops in the morning, at the moment when reduced blood flow begins its recovery after the night. It is typical to awaken with the realization that it is impossible to move the limbs of one side of the body, problems with speech are also possible, it looks like repetition of one syllable or individual sounds that cannot be interpreted. Also, a person may not recognize the speech of others. Vision and coordination deteriorate, loss of consciousness in this case rarely occurs, and vomiting is not observed.

Hemorrhagic stroke is characterized by bleeding into tissue. Divided into types:

hemorrhage into the ventricles;
cerebral hemorrhage;
mixed view: into the ventricles and tissue, into the tissue and the space between the membranes, into the tissue, ventricles and the space between the membranes;
into the space between the membranes of the brain.

In all species (except mixed) symptoms appear abruptly, usually during the day. They occur due to stress or physical fatigue. The development of symptoms is rapid. It begins with a severe headache, followed by vomiting, and impaired motor activity in one of the limbs or on one side of the body (arm and leg on one side). The pressure rises, usually more than 180, but can remain within the range of 160-180. Characterized by loss of consciousness for a long time.
Hemorrhage into the space between the membranes may also be accompanied by vomiting (1 or 2), brief loss of consciousness, convulsions (the body is pulled out by a string) or contraction of the muscles of the arms or legs. Breathing is impaired, the person is unconscious, the tongue may sink in (this must be prevented - turn the head to the side, move the lower jaw forward and remove the tongue, use the oral and nasal air ducts to hold it), the mucous membrane of the lips and the skin are bluish in color.

The sooner medical assistance is provided, the greater the patient’s chances of subsequent normal condition.

Algorithm of actions for stroke

In the event that first aid for a stroke cannot be provided by a qualified specialist, you need to act according to the algorithm, and in the near future (preferably immediately, if the situation allows) call an ambulance. If this is not possible, then try to tell other people to do it.

It is also important to understand that you can only give any medications before the doctors arrive if the ambulance is very delayed. Typically these are drugs that support the functioning of brain cells:

The drugs are best absorbed if they are administered intravenously.

Help yourself. At home or on the street

It is difficult to help yourself, so it is advisable to immediately, if you have symptoms indicating a stroke, tell someone, call for help, call an ambulance, or knock on your neighbors. Self-medication should not be allowed. First of all, you need to make sure that help will come. Next you need:

Don't panic.
Open windows for air flow.
Lie on your back so that your head is slightly raised.
Tell someone you think you may have a stroke.
Call an ambulance.
Release the neck and chest from constricting objects.
Do not move unless necessary, lie still and wait for help to arrive.

If such a condition overtakes a person on the street, then passers-by need to be notified about this. It is advisable to lie down on a bench or even on the sidewalk (if possible) and place a small object under your head. Call an ambulance.

In many cases, patients cannot help themselves on their own, since the symptoms occur quite abruptly.

To a stranger. At home or on the street

It is much easier to provide assistance to a stranger during a stroke than to provide assistance to yourself. The task is to monitor the patient until the medical team arrives. Necessary:

Don't panic.
Conduct an analysis of the person’s condition: check consciousness, blood pressure, breathing, heartbeat.
Conduct a test for the presence of a stroke: consciousness, speech, vision, facial asymmetry, coordination, paralysis of arms and legs (one side).
Call an ambulance - mobile number 103, 112. Say that there are signs of a stroke.
Place the patient in a comfortable position. If a person is conscious, then the position should be horizontal, and something should be placed under the head so that it is approximately 30 degrees higher than the body. If unconscious, then they are placed on their side and something small is placed under the head. This position is necessary so that the patient does not choke on vomit if this process begins, and it is necessary to make sure that there are no dentures (removable) in the mouth; if there are, they are removed.
Provide fresh air flow. Open the windows to ventilate the room.
If possible, find out the causes of the stroke, or find out if there are allergic reactions in order to make the work of doctors easier.
Provide resuscitation as necessary, but only if there is no breathing or heartbeat and the pupils are wide. Perform cardiac massage and perform artificial respiration.
Monitor the patient until specialists arrive.
When convulsions develop, it is necessary to pay special attention to breathing; in its absence, you should try to unclench your teeth using a spoon or any suitable object at hand, if possible (without much effort, which could injure the patient). Next (while the convulsive state has not yet passed), you need to fix your thumbs on the corners of the patient’s lower jaw, put the others on the chin, then bring the lower teeth a little forward relative to the upper ones.

The main thing is to monitor the patient’s condition and take the necessary measures. If this happens on the street, then the patient can be laid on a bench, and a bag or bag can be placed under the head. It is best to carry out first aid with 2-3 people.

Nuances of care for ischemic stroke

First aid for ischemic stroke is slightly different. The standard scheme will do, but with an addition. Necessary:

cover your feet;
massage the limbs;
Avoid taking medications (except Piracetam and Glycine).

Help according to standard instructions.

Nuances of care for hemorrhagic stroke

In this case, the help is also standard, but with the use of special means. Necessary:

ensure the patient's peace;
remove tight clothing;
cold is applied to the part of the head, to the part opposite to the numbness of the limbs;
feet are placed in warmth;
tilt the head;
remove dentures from your mouth.

Also, as a massage, rub your feet with a mixture of oil and alcohol.

What not to do if you have a stroke

A non-medical worker can only monitor the patient until the specialist arrives and, if possible, provide assistance according to algorithms. First aid for a stroke should exclude the following measures:

moving in space after taking a position to provide assistance;
excite with conversations;
lower your head below your body;
physical activity;
washing, thus changing body temperature;
drink or food.

Before the doctors arrive, you only need to stabilize the patient’s condition and monitor indicators of breathing, pressure, consciousness, and heartbeat.

Effectiveness of first aid

Providing first aid is vital, since timely treatment can help the patient. The sooner the patient is taken to the hospital, the better for his life. If a person is taken to hospital within the first 3 hours after the condition develops:

restoration processes in brain cells improve by 60-70%;
in seriously ill patients with massive strokes, life saving statistics are 50-60%;
in people with mild strokes, full recovery occurs in 75-90% of cases.

Timely first aid and timely admission of the patient to a medical facility is a chance for a more favorable outcome.

Stroke is characterized by an acute disorder of cerebral circulation. In Russia, this disease is diagnosed in more than half a million people. A third of all patients cannot be saved. The outcome of the disease largely depends on how first aid is provided for a stroke.

If the patient is correctly, qualified and promptly delivered to a medical facility, the likelihood of a favorable outcome will increase by 2 times. But in life, an unexpected stroke can occur at any moment; people nearby who are not versed in medicine get scared and panic. What should you do first before the ambulance arrives? What is first aid?

The most important thing is not to waste time when an attack begins

First aid for a stroke - you don’t have to waste a minute of time. This is the main thing. During a stroke, the blood supply to the brain is disrupted, causing brain cells to die. This process is fleeting. Therefore, how quickly an ambulance is provided to a person will depend on his life and how lost functions are restored after a stroke. It is believed that it should be provided within the first 3 hours from the moment the disease begins. Later, processes begin in the brain cells that can no longer be prevented. If blood supply is restored within 6 hours after the onset of the attack, some undead brain cells can still be preserved.

This is why first aid for stroke at home is so important, as soon as you recognize the symptoms of this dangerous disease. And for this you need to know what the first signs of a stroke are, not to get confused and without wasting time to call an ambulance. Only emergency assistance from specialists from a medical institution can help prevent the development of this disease and minimize all its consequences.

What everyone needs to know

How to provide first aid for a stroke? Firstly, recognize the onset of the disease as quickly as possible. The presence of at least one of the following signs may be the onset of a stroke, and you should urgently call an ambulance:

Ask the patient to raise both arms up. If he raises them at different speeds, one arm is higher than the other, then this is one of the signs of a stroke.
If a patient, with his eyes closed, stretches his arms in front of him with his palms up, does it as follows: either the right or left hand seems to go to the side or down, then this is also a symptom of a dangerous disease.
When the tongue sticks out, it will turn to the side or curl.
The functioning of the speech apparatus is disrupted. If you ask to say something and it is said slurred, with poor diction, or the patient cannot say anything at all, then this indicates the onset of a stroke.
When you smile, it will look strange due to the fact that the corners of your lips will be directed upward on one side and downward on the other. This is a very characteristic sign of this disease.

But the condition preceding the stroke is dangerous. It is also necessary to know its signs, since if first aid is not provided in this case, it can lead to the same consequences as with a stroke.

The symptoms of this condition are as follows:

blood pressure has increased or decreased sharply;
dizzy;
the person has lost sensitivity;
he feels sick, vomits, he sweats profusely;
severe headache;
the patient breathes quickly and the heart begins to beat vigorously;
“floaters” appear in the eyes;
there is noise in the ears;
all objects acquire a reddish tint;
blood rushes to the face;
speech and vision are impaired.

Providing first aid for a stroke by a person far from medicine comes down to recognizing a stroke at home and calling an ambulance. And the faster this is done, the less consequences there will be.

What does stroke mean?

Stroke and emergency care for it includes the need to know what types of this disease exist. For whatever reason there was a disturbance in blood flow in the brain, stroke is divided into ischemic and hemorrhagic types. The symptoms and what to do first before the ambulance arrives depend on which of these types of stroke is determined. Providing first aid for a stroke largely depends on how the type of disease is correctly determined.

The development of ischemic stroke is associated with blockage of the artery that supplies the brain.

The presence of the following signs characterizes the development of this pathology in a patient:

speech is disrupted;
arms and legs begin to go numb;
dizzy;
nausea and vomiting appears;
vision problems occur;
Strong headache;
a convulsive state is observed;
a feeling of malaise on the right or left side of the body;
weakness;
misunderstanding people's speech.

With a hemorrhagic stroke, the artery supplying the brain ruptures. The reason for this is hypertension. First, a person has a severe headache, then nausea appears, and everything around becomes reddish. These are the very first signs of the development of this type of disease. In addition, the person experiences the following symptoms:

one side of the body is paralyzed;
salivation increases;
speech is distorted;
a person loses orientation in space;
there is a jump in blood pressure;
temperature rises;
vomiting occurs;
the patient may suddenly lose consciousness;
breathing becomes loud and hoarse;
sweat appears on the forehead;
the pulse becomes rare and tense, and in the neck area, on the contrary, strong;
movements of the arms and legs are involuntary;
eyes are averted to the affected side;
the patient feels slight deafness.

Treatment of patients is also different depending on the type of stroke.

Necessary measures for stroke

What to do in case of a stroke before doctors arrive? First aid for a stroke depends on what symptoms the patient has.

For the ischemic type, the following must be observed:

the person should lie on a flat surface, with a bolster or pillow under his head;
don't bother him;
make sure your breathing is even;
To prevent the tongue from sticking, place the patient’s head to one side;
other than glycine or piracetam, do not give any other drugs;
it is necessary to rub the patient’s arms and legs, preferably with a brush with soft bristles;

First aid for hemorrhagic type is as follows:

The patient is strictly prohibited from moving. Place him on the bed or, if the attack did not occur at home, directly on the ground, there should be something like a cushion under his head;
remove anything that interferes with the flow of oxygen. Loosen your tie, belt;
if the patient has dental prosthetics in his mouth, remove them;
put the patient's head to the side;
if vomiting begins, help get rid of it;
Place something cold on the opposite side of the affected side of the body. It is important to know that if you are not sure what type of disease it is, then do not perform this action. It can worsen a person's condition;
warm your limbs with a warm blanket to improve blood circulation;
in limbs with impaired motor activity, do rubbing before the doctors arrive. In this case, it is advisable to use a mixture of alcohol and oil in a ratio of 1:2, respectively.

The first step in helping with a stroke in both cases will be to call an ambulance.

If a patient's blood flow is disrupted within a few minutes, then his condition normalizes, only a feeling of drowsiness remains, irritability to bright lights and loud sounds, he begins to hear, see, speak poorly, a problem with blood pressure is revealed, and at the same time, when raising his hands, one rises higher than the other, then they talk about a microstroke or a small stroke.

If all the symptoms indicate that the patient has a minor stroke, then first aid for it will be as follows:

the initial action is to call a doctor;
put the patient down with a couple of pillows under his head;
until the ambulance arrives, do not give any medications, especially vasodilators;
do everything possible to keep your limbs warm;
open the windows to keep the air fresh;
help the patient get rid of vomit;
in case of loss of consciousness, try to bring him to his senses;
remove excess clothing from the patient so that he can breathe easier and nothing interferes with the blood flow;

What should a stroke patient do?

tell someone you feel unwell;
lie down, there must be either a bolster or a pillow under your head;
you cannot drink water or take medications;
As a rule, the patient finds himself in such a situation that he is sometimes unable to do anything himself. Therefore, before loss of speech occurs, try to report your illness.

Emergency care for a stroke is to call an ambulance, you can try to do it yourself.

In contact with

A stroke occurs when blood stops flowing to one part of the brain. Brain cells die in the absence of oxygen. Most strokes begin due to a blood clot that blocks the flow of blood to the brain (ischemic). In other cases, it is the result of bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic). It is necessary to know how to provide first aid for a stroke at home, providing a person with a chance to get maximum relief from its consequences.

The risk group includes elderly people and patients whose family members have had the disease. Health problems or bad habits may increase your risk:

high pressure;
heart problems;
high cholesterol;
diabetes;
some types of heart rhythm disorders, such as atrial fibrillation;
a high-salt diet or unhealthy eating habits;
lack of exercise;
smoking;
alcohol abuse or drug use

Symptoms

This disease can occur in people of any age. It is important to be able to recognize the first signs. If you develop symptoms, do not try to get to the hospital on your own; try to call an ambulance. It is necessary to begin drug treatment as soon as possible.

It is believed that the most favorable prognosis is for patients who begin receiving treatment within the first three hours. In this case, it is possible to minimize or eliminate the damage that caused the stroke.

Symptoms of a stroke may develop gradually or be sudden. With rapidly developing symptoms, the following manifestations occur:

a feeling of numbness in the muscles of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body;
having trouble trying to speak or understand;
problems walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination;
Strong headache;

It is not necessary that all these signs be present. You may also have stroke-like symptoms that go away quickly. You should not ignore them; the lack of adequate treatment at the onset of the disease can be destructive for the body.

Important! The process can spread to other parts of the brain and affect vital functions.

First aid

Before the patient is hospitalized, first aid for a stroke should be provided at home. Some recommendations need to be followed:

Try to calm the patient down. Even if he is unable to respond, he can hear you, and your calm and confidence will rub off on him.
If there is no loss of consciousness and no vomiting, place him on a hard surface without a pillow. It is advisable to raise your legs to ensure blood flow to the head.
Remove dentures.
It is not advisable to give food or medicine.
Provide fresh air into the room where the patient is.
Remove clothing if it makes breathing difficult.
If he has the urge to vomit, lay him on his side so that the vomit does not lead to suffocation. Also make sure that your tongue does not block the airway.
Place a basin nearby for the vomit.
If there is no breathing, immediately perform artificial respiration and chest compressions.
Try to hospitalize the patient in a medical institution for diagnosis, treatment and therapeutic measures.

What to do before the ambulance arrives? Try the following:

pay attention to the possibility of free blood circulation (remove tight belts and tight clothing from the patient);
monitor airway patency;
prepare documents (insurance policy, passport);
Remember the list of chronic diseases and medications that are not tolerated by patients.

These measures will help alleviate the consequences of the hemorrhage process and speed up the start of the treatment process.

First steps at home

How to help a person with a stroke? If you had to witness the occurrence of a stroke, you must follow the algorithm of actions. The prognosis of his illness depends on the coherence and ability to provide the necessary assistance to a person.

First of all, call an ambulance. It is believed that it is not recommended to move such a patient, but he can be placed in a comfortable and safe position, ensuring the free flow of vomit (if there is a urge to vomit).

In order for blood to flow to the head, it is recommended to slightly raise your legs; you do not need to use a pillow. Provide oxygen access to the patient's area.

If the person is not breathing, perform artificial respiration and chest compressions. Do them until the person begins to breathe on their own, or until the ambulance arrives.

Methods from ancient times

Some believe that to alleviate the condition of a person who has suffered a stroke, it is necessary to lower blood pressure by performing light bloodletting. This method has been used by healers for many centuries.

To do this, just put the patient in a comfortable position and use a needle to make punctures on the fingertips, slightly retreating from the nail plate. In this place, the blood will flow in small drops, gradually relieving the pressure, preventing further hemorrhage in the brain, worsening the disease and its manifestations.

Chinese healers successfully use acupuncture methods for stroke. A more tangible result of needle treatment of a patient with a stroke caused by ischemic manifestations. The earlier the impact of the needle on the patient begins, the shorter the recovery period.

The thinnest needles are inserted into certain places of the patient's body and remain in this position for some time (15-30 minutes). Before insertion, needles are thoroughly sterilized and disinfected. Several courses of treatment of 10-15 procedures should be performed.

Drug treatment

Doctors complain about untimely delivery of stroke patients to them. After hemorrhage, no more than 3 hours should pass before treatment begins. In this case, it is possible to ensure not only the patient’s life, but also his ability to independently care for himself or even return to work.

First aid for a stroke is provided within the walls of medical institutions. Patients are placed in the intensive care unit of the neurological department. Only after research has been carried out and the causes of the disease have been established, such patients are prescribed medications.

Since stroke can be of two types (hemorrhagic and ischemic), prescribed medications for one group of patients may be strictly contraindicated for another.

In case of ischemic manifestations, blood thinning medications (Cerebrolysin, Cavinton, heparin, pentoxifylline) are prescribed.

In case of hemorrhagic stroke, on the contrary, hemostatic agents are used. Such hemostatic agents include etamsylate and aminocaproic acid.

Be careful and take the necessary measures when the first signs of a stroke appear. Timely treatment of a patient who has suffered a stroke within the walls of a medical institution will ensure his life and give him a chance for a favorable course of the disease, reducing the negative consequences of the disease.

A stroke is an acute disorder of cerebral circulation, which entails a variety of negative consequences: impaired memory, speech, thinking, etc. If you suspect a stroke, when the first signs appear, you should not waste time, but you should immediately call a doctor.

First aid for stroke is also important, because the future prognosis largely depends on how correctly the first steps were performed. What to do if a stroke occurs? How to help a person before the ambulance arrives?

Signs of stroke in men and women

Before providing first aid for a stroke, it is necessary to make sure that it is an acute cerebrovascular accident. The fact is that the symptoms are in many ways similar to other diseases.

On the day preceding the attack, a person may experience precursor symptoms, which are expressed in vegetative-vascular dystonia, characterized by:

pain in the thoracic region of an acute or dull nature, occurring in the form of prolonged attacks;
unexplained anxiety;
redness of the face, swelling of the venous vessels at the temples;
surges in blood pressure;
increased heart rate;
acute pain syndrome in the epigastric region and disruption of the gastrointestinal tract: constipation and diarrhea;
increased sweating;
general malaise;
weakness in the limbs.

Such clinical manifestations are considered common and can be characteristic of many other diseases. However, if they rapidly develop into more severe symptoms, this directly indicates a stroke. It is at this stage that it is important to provide emergency first aid for an impending stroke, which will help reduce the severity of negative consequences.

Among the main signs of an attack:

trembling (tremor) of the limbs;
impaired mobility of arms and legs: awkwardness, unnaturalness;
loss of sensation in the limbs;
speech impairment: incoherence, slurredness;
disturbance of visual function: blurred vision, appearance of a veil, circles before the eyes;
impaired coordination of movements;
short-term memory loss;
violation of orientation in space;
dizziness, fainting;
loss of sensation on one side of the face and torso;
nausea and vomiting syndrome; noise in the head and ears.

To confirm that a stroke has occurred, it is necessary to check whether the person can independently hold his arm parallel to the floor for 10 seconds and lift his leg from the support. If this is not possible, you need to immediately call a doctor, that is, emergency medical care.

Efficiency of emergency care

Many people are not inclined to lead a healthy lifestyle, which does not have the best effect on the condition of organs and systems, including the blood vessels of the brain. According to statistics, the highest mortality rate in the country is from stroke. To reduce the risk of death and minimize other negative consequences, it is important to provide proper first aid for a stroke in the first hours.

A negative prognosis largely depends on the fact that if a stroke is suspected, those around the patient are in no hurry to take medical actions, because they do not even know what they are. Anyone can provide first aid, and it is not at all difficult.

Emergency assistance procedure

If a person has a stroke, the development of irreversible changes occurs over several hours. The therapeutic window, which lasts 4.5 hours, is a period during which serious consequences can be prevented if the correct medical care is provided.

However, most of this time is spent on pre-medical measures, the arrival of a doctor, and transporting a person with an attack to a hospital. Therefore, it is not recommended to waste a single minute and if alarming symptoms appear, immediately provide first aid and call a doctor.

Algorithm of actions for providing first aid for a stroke at home:

First of all, it is necessary to calm the patient, because excessive anxiety will only aggravate the condition.
Next, the victim is placed on the bed, the head is raised (30 degrees).
If there is vomiting, the person is placed on his side, which will avoid reflux of vomit into the respiratory tract and, as a result, disruption of respiratory function.
Compressive elements of clothing are loosened: collar, belt.
If you have high blood pressure, you must write down the readings and report them upon the doctor’s arrival. As a rule, hypertension is a natural phenomenon in the first hours after an attack.
It is recommended to place the lower limbs in a bowl of hot water. This will allow blood to flow from the brain to the lower torso, thereby reducing pressure on the vessels of the head.

Compliance with such rules helps to eliminate rapid death and profound disability.

What not to do

Before the ambulance arrives, certain actions are prohibited during the process of providing first aid for a stroke.

First of all, this is not allowing the patient to fall asleep. Among the first symptoms are general malaise and increased drowsiness, but falling asleep during a stroke is strictly prohibited. First aid medications are most effective in the first hours after an attack.

The second restriction is the exclusion of taking any medications, food, drinks. This is especially dangerous in hemorrhagic stroke, which is considered more rare than ischemic stroke. In this case, the attack is caused by a ruptured blood vessel, and any medications can only aggravate the condition.

Drinking and eating are also excluded. In some cases, during an attack, swallowing function is impaired and drinking liquids or foods can cause breathing problems.

Sometimes it happens that the ambulance team does not travel for a long time or cannot arrive at all when called. However, driving a vehicle on your own to get to a medical facility is strictly prohibited. You can ask a neighbor or a passer-by to take a person with a stroke to the hospital.

Features of emergency care

To provide proper first aid, it is recommended to study how to behave in various situations, for example, if you manage to find a victim on the street, if he is unconscious or unconscious.

First aid on the street

Helping a person with a stroke, if the situation occurred on the street, is no different from therapeutic measures carried out at home:

The victim is laid horizontally, and if vomiting occurs, on his side.
Tight elements of clothing become loose (collar, belt).
If an attack occurs near any room in which the tonometer accidentally ended up, it is recommended to measure the pressure. If it is elevated, the patient’s head is raised; if it is low, he is left lying on a support.
If there is a convulsive syndrome, the victim is placed on his side. Any available object wrapped in cloth is inserted into the oral cavity and left until the attack ends.

Before the ambulance arrives, it is important to stay close to the patient and monitor his condition.

If the patient is conscious

If the victim's consciousness is not impaired, to confirm the diagnosis it is recommended to ask the person his name or where he lives. As a rule, due to short-term memory loss, the patient will not be able to answer such simple questions.

It is necessary to calm the patient down and not allow him to panic. Excitement and fear only aggravate the clinical manifestations of a stroke. It is important to give him a comfortable position (you can sit with a pillow under your back).

If the patient is unconscious

What to do in case of a stroke if the victim has lost consciousness: lay him on his side, remove removable dentures from his mouth (if any), make sure he is breathing.

Emergency assistance is required even in cases where the patient is intoxicated. According to statistics, approximately 25-30% of people who died at home were in this condition.

If the patient is not breathing or has no pulse

If there are no signs of breathing and it is impossible to feel the pulse, first aid for a stroke consists of chest compressions, artificial respiration through the nose or mouth to mouth.

Emergency medical care for stroke

After first aid for a stroke has been provided, further therapeutic measures are carried out by a doctor in a hospital. Treatment features differ depending on the type of stroke, which can be ischemic and hemorrhagic.

If you are diagnosed with an ischemic attack

With an ischemic stroke, there is a sudden acute disruption of blood circulation in a certain part of the brain. Basic therapy after the patient is admitted to the hospital is as follows:

in reducing brain swelling;
maintaining heart function;
monitoring respiratory function and general temperature;
restoration of water and electrolyte balance.

Specific drug treatment can eliminate the source of acute blood flow disturbance:

intravenous administration of a thrombolytic drug that helps dissolve a blood clot that is preventing normal blood flow to the brain;
administration of an anticoagulant, which helps prevent the growth of a blood clot;
introduction of a neuroprotector, which helps to inhibit the pathological chain of neurochemical reactions.

Further measures involve the restoration of lost functions that arose due to the death of part of the brain.

If you are diagnosed with a hemorrhagic stroke

While transporting the victim to a medical facility, the ambulance team carries out resuscitation measures, which consist of administering drugs that reduce blood pressure, relieve psychomotor agitation, and convulsions.

Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the exact location of the hemorrhage is found, the level of its spread in the brain tissue is determined, treatment is determined, which can be medicinal and surgical.

Surgical therapy involves surgical removal of the hematoma, which will reduce swelling of the brain and prevent negative consequences caused by displacement of organ structures. The operation can be microsurgical endoscopic or classical microsurgical, if there are no contraindications (coma, location of the hematoma in the medial part of the cerebral hemisphere).

Conservative therapy involves achieving the same goals as surgical therapy, but is carried out when it is impossible to use surgical techniques. They use drugs that normalize blood pressure and heart activity, slow down damage to parts of the brain, and restore their activity. To stop hemorrhage, hemostatic agents are administered.

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Conclusion

Stroke is a dangerous disease that can cause death if not treated promptly. 50% of success and a favorable prognosis depends on the correct provision of first aid. Therefore, if alarming symptoms occur that indicate an attack, there is no need to waste time, but immediately take pre-medical measures.