Being able to identify the warning signs of a stroke and take appropriate and immediate action is vital to increase the chances of recovery and even survival for a stroke victim. The problem is for the person suffering the stroke they are usually debilitated and unable to call the emergency services.
The emergency services are aggressively promoting the impact of stroke on a persons well being, in an attempt to help people better recognise stroke symptoms and take appropriate action where necessary.
The more common warning signs of stroke include the following symptoms:
Sudden weakness or numbness in face, arm or leg on one side of the body.
Sudden dimness or loss of vision, particularly in one eye.
Difficulty in talking and in understanding when being spoken to, or even complete loss of speech. A lot of stroke victims report that they are aware that something (quite frightening) is happening to them, but they either can't manage to speak to tell anyone about it, or when they do speak, their words are undistinguishable and mumbled.
Intense and sudden headaches for no apparent reason.
Unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness or sudden falls, especially with any of the other symptoms mentioned above.
Fortunately, the EMS is being packaged as a complete support system, which will ultimately lead to a better response and increased chance of recovery for all stroke victims. The package includes roles at all levels of support from medical researchers, through to the people handling the emergency calls and the medical dispatchers and paramedics.
A recent study by the Central New York EMS program found the average person who had a stroke waited nearly 2 hours before calling for assistance. EMS has attempted to fight this delay by becoming more aggressive with public education on stroke warning signs and symptoms and urging patients to call 911 or the their EMS for assistance at the first signs of stroke.
Once they receive the call for help, the EMS have a very streamlined system in place to ensure that the victim gets the support and medical attention very quickly, but they are unable to put any of this into practise until they are made aware of the case.
They are able to assess patients on the spot and make informed judgements due to their knowledge of stroke symptoms, and are able to make detailed reports to physicians and medical departments on route to hospital. The end result is a very streamlined and efficient service for identifying signs of a stroke, managing the stroke symptoms and increasing the odds of survival and recovery for the victim.
The survival of stroke patients is dependent on a team approach to care. Stroke care starts with the patient recognizing the warning signs and symptoms of a stroke and activating the EMS system as soon as possible. It really is critical that a stroke victim receive medical attention as quickly as possible to increase their chances of survival.
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Cheap and discounted contact lenses - they're probably one of the most mistreated items we own, yet they're vital to healthy eyes. But with a few simple care tips we can really turn things around. With so many discounted contact lens suppliers it's not even a major financial issue any more. Would you believe a recent survey discovered that lots of people clean their contact lens by licking or sucking them clean. Many people wear them for several days at a time without removing them; we sleep in them, swim in them and lean them with tap water (which has high levels of bacteria).
Cheap contact lenses often get less care and attention than most people devote to their shoes. The small slips of plastic that make glasses unnecessary have become so popular - and comfortable - that it's easy to forget they're a medical device. That's a problem, because they carry a risk of serious complications if mistreated. Contact lenses and dry eyes is just one of the early symptoms to be aware of.
If you get a bacterial infection in your eyes it can create very serious problems and painful inflammation. I know we all believe tap water is healthy and safe, but that's not quite true. Organisms that live in tap water can grow and build colonies in your eyes, and even resist most drugs. I don't want to be a scaremonger, but in serious cases people have gone blind or needed to have cornea transplants. Over the past 24 months there have been increased incidences of infections of a protozoan known as Acanthamoeba.
Just recently, a young man in his early twenties (Rocco) had only been a contact lens wearer for a matter of months when got an infection that gave him throbbing pain in his left eye, which was also very inflamed and angry red inside. Unfortunately he was diagnosed with having Acanthamoeba.
The doctors tried various drugs and medications, but after 6 months of nothing working he was sent for a cornea transplant as the only way to save his sight in that eye. The Acanthamoeba had colonized his eye, and caused scar tissue which was now blurring his vision.
Now Rocco is facing a second transplant in his other eye. "I'd hate to see this happen to anyone else," Rocco said. "Tell the people to keep those things clean." All it takes is an effective contact lens cleaner and some contact lens cases and you're set.
But don't panic - Acanthamoeba is still relatively rare, and doctors believe it only affects about one or two contact lens wearers in every one million. However, bacterial infections are much more common, affecting about 1 in 2500 wearers every year.
The eye has natural defense mechanisms, but contact lenses counteract them. When you blink, your eyelid acts like a windshield wiper to spread tears across the top layer of the eye, or epithelium, washing away any bacteria or foreign bodies (like dust). A contact lens puts a barrier between your eye and your eyelid, so your eyes natural defense is interrupted. So it's vital that you keep your lenses clean with a good contact lens cleaner kit.
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About Me
Looking after your health is one of the most important things you can (and should) do. But with so much information it's hard to know where to start or who to listen to. Hopefully by sharing my experiences and knowledge, I'll make the path to improving and protecting your health a lot easier to follow.
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