A stroke is characterized by an acute violation 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 it is correct, qualified and prompt to deliver the patient to a medical institution, then the probability of a favorable outcome will increase by 2 times. But in life, an unexpected attack of a stroke can occur at any moment, people who are nearby, not knowledgeable in medicine, get scared and panic. What to do first before the ambulance arrives? What is first aid?

The most important thing is not to waste time at the beginning of an attack.

First aid for a stroke - not a minute of time to waste. This is the main thing. In a stroke, the blood supply to the brain is disrupted, causing brain cells to die. This process is short lived. Therefore, his life will depend on how quickly an ambulance is provided to a person and how lost functions will be restored after a stroke. It is believed that it should be provided within the first 3 hours from the moment the disease began. Later, processes begin in the brain cells that cannot be prevented. If you restore the blood supply within 6 hours after the onset of the attack, then you can still save some undead brain cells.

Therefore, first aid for a 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 are the first signs of a stroke, not to get confused and not wasting time to call ambulance. Only emergency assistance from specialists of 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? First, as soon as possible to recognize the onset of the development of the disease. The presence of at least one of the following signs may be the beginning of a stroke, and an ambulance should be urgently called:

1. Ask the patient to raise both hands up. If he raises them at different speeds, one hand is higher than the other, then this is one of the signs of a stroke.
2. If the patient, with his eyes closed, while stretching his arms in front of him with his palms up, does this as follows: either the right or left hand, as it were, goes to the side or downwards, then this is also a symptom of a dangerous disease.
3. When protruding the tongue, it will turn to the side or bend.
4. Work is disrupted speech apparatus. If you ask to say something and it is slurred, with poor diction, or the patient cannot say anything at all, then this indicates the onset of a stroke.
5. When smiling, it will look strange due to the fact that the corners of the lips will be directed, on the one hand - up, on the other - down. This is a very characteristic feature of this disease.

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

The symptoms of this condition are as follows:

• a sharp increase or decrease in blood pressure;
• dizzy;
• a person has lost sensitivity;
• he is sick, vomiting has appeared, he sweats intensely;
• severe headache;
• the patient breathes rapidly and the heart begins to beat hard;
• "flies" appear in the eyes;
• 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 sooner 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 what reason there was a violation of blood flow in the brain, stroke is divided into ischemic and hemorrhagic types. Which of these types is a stroke depends on its symptoms and what to do first before the ambulance arrives. The provision of first aid for stroke largely depends on how the type of disease is correctly determined.

The development of ischemic stroke is associated with blockage of the artery from which the brain is fed.

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

• speech is disturbed;
• arms and legs begin to go numb;
• dizzy;
• nausea and vomiting appear;
• there are problems with vision;
• Strong headache;
• there is a convulsive state;
• feeling unwell in the right or left side of the body;
• weakness;
• misunderstanding of people's speech.

With a hemorrhagic form of stroke, an artery that feeds the brain ruptures. The reason for this is hypertension. First, a person has a severe headache, then nausea appears, everything around takes on a reddish tint. These are the very first signs of the development of this type of disease. In addition, the person has the following symptoms:

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

Treatment of patients, depending on what type of stroke, is also different.

Necessary measures for a stroke

What are the steps for a stroke before the doctors arrive? First health care with a stroke depends on what symptoms the patient has.

For the ischemic type, the following must be observed:

• a person should lie on a flat surface, there should be a roller or pillow under his head;
• do not disturb him;
• observe that breathing is even;
• so that the tongue does not sunk, put the patient's head on one side;
• except for glycine or piracetam, do not give any other drugs;
• it is necessary to rub the hands and feet of the patient, preferably with a brush having soft bristles;

First aid for hemorrhagic form is as follows:

• The patient is strictly prohibited from moving. Put him on the bed or, if the attack did not occur at home, directly on the ground, there should be something like a roller under his head;
• remove everything that interferes with the flow of oxygen. Loosen the tie, belt;
• if the patient has dental prosthetics in his mouth, then remove it;
• put the patient's head to the side;
• if vomiting has begun, help to get rid of it;
• on the opposite side of the affected side of the body, put something cold on the head. It is important to know that if you are not sure what kind of disease it is, then do not perform this action. It can worsen a person's condition;
• warm the limbs with a warm blanket to improve blood circulation;
• in the limbs with impaired motor activity, do rubbing before the arrival of doctors. In this case, it is desirable 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 has a violation of blood flow in a few minutes, then his condition returns to normal, only a feeling of drowsiness, irritability to bright lights and loud sounds remains, he begins to hear, see, speak poorly, a problem with blood pressure is detected, and at the same time, when raising his hands, one rises above the other, then they talk about a microstroke or a small stroke.

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

• the initial action is to call a doctor;
• put the patient, there should be a couple of pillows under the head;
• until the ambulance arrives, do not give any medications, especially vasodilators;
• do everything possible to keep the limbs warm;
• open the vents so that the air is 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, nothing interferes with blood flow;

What should be done by the patient with a stroke

• tell someone about your bad health;
• lie down, under the head there must be either a roller or a pillow;
• you can not drink water and take medicine;
• as a rule, the patient finds himself in such a situation that sometimes he is not able to do anything himself. Therefore, until there is a loss of speech, try to report your illness.

Urgent care with a stroke - call an ambulance, you can try to do it yourself.

In contact with

Stroke is one of the most dangerous cerebrovascular diseases affecting a person. In Russia, a stroke is registered in about half a million people, of which a third die in the first month after a stroke; within a year the lethality reaches 50%. According to statistics, only 10-13% of people who have had a stroke fully recover, while the rest die or remain disabled to one degree or another. 31% of stroke patients need outside help to care for themselves, and 20% cannot walk independently (data from the National Stroke Association).

Distinguish between hemorrhagic (hemorrhage) and ischemic (blockage of the vessel) strokes. In hemorrhagic stroke, the clinic is more severe and there is a greater mortality of sick people, but, on the other hand, there is a more active recovery of impaired functions in surviving patients. At ischemic stroke lethality is lower, but patients recover much longer and not so fully. The most common type of stroke is ischemic stroke, which occurs 5-6 times more often than hemorrhagic stroke.

Modern medicine has sufficient technology to save a person's life and help him recover in the event of a stroke. The main thing in modern technologies- this is a time factor, since with a stroke, the count goes literally for the first tens of minutes.

O causes of cerebral stroke and about those who are at risk, we wrote earlier in the post First aid for stroke In this post, we will dwell in more detail on what exactly needs to be done if a stroke occurs.

The first signs of a stroke

Sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arm or leg, or half of the body

Sudden decrease or loss of vision

Problems with speech and orientation in space

Sudden severe headache for no apparent reason

But even if everything speaks of the most unfavorable scenario, timely medical care can save a person. You have approximately 4 hours.

Why is it so important to act as quickly as possible in a stroke?

In the core of the stroke zone, there is a sharp decrease in the level cerebral blood flow to a critical threshold of irreversible cellular changes, which leads here to the death of neurons within 6-8 minutes. In the area that is around the core of the infarction, the blood flow is reduced, but it is above the critical one and the neurons remain alive, although they do not function (there is no energy for this anymore). This zone is called the penumbra. However, after 2-4 hours, the penumbra area can turn into an infarction zone as a result of the mechanisms of primary neuronal damage. Cell death occurs under the influence of pathobiochemical processes, called the "ischemic cascade".

When can a stroke happen?

The stroke has favorite months: November-January and March, and even the time of day - night and early morning.

What to do if a stroke occurs?

If trouble happened to someone close, it is important to remember the main thing: with timely and proper treatment, the chances of recovery and full recovery are quite high. And the first thing to do if you have at least one of the symptoms of a stroke is to immediately call an ambulance.

while you wait for the doctor

Lay the patient on his side, increase airflow into the room, measure blood pressure if possible. If blood pressure is moderately elevated, then it is not recommended to give antihypertensive drugs, since even its “normalization” can increase cerebral ischemia. A moderate increase in blood pressure and, consequently, blood flow to the affected tissues during a stroke is a protective reaction of the brain to developing ischemia and hypoxia

Stroke ambulance. What do doctors do.

Medics from the ambulance team must carry out a set of therapeutic measures aimed at maintaining cardiac and respiratory activity. In the first 6 hours after the development of acute cerebrovascular accident, the patient should be admitted to the intensive care unit of the neurological department, regardless of the severity of the disease, its nature and localization.

In 2006, the domestic drug Semax 1% was included in the federal standard for the treatment of stroke and coma in the emergency room. And since 2010, Semax 1% has been included in the laying of ambulance teams.

Most drugs for the treatment of stroke are administered intravenously, but the drug is not able to penetrate through the clotted vessel to the affected area of ​​the brain. Unlike other drugs for the treatment of stroke, Semax is available in the form of nasal drops. The unique mechanism of transport of the drug directly into the brain tissue along the olfactory nerves does not need the circulatory system, which guarantees Semax to reach the affected areas of the brain within 2-4 minutes. Therefore, Semax 1% is recommended to be used as first aid for stroke even at the pre-hospital stage, that is, in the first minutes and hours of the development of the disease. V this case"Semax 1%" is administered three drops in each nasal passage every 20 minutes before admission to the hospital.

It has been clinically proven that the use of Semax at the first signs and in the first hours after a stroke solves the following tasks:

The fastest possible delivery of the active substance to the brain cells and stopping their further destruction. This reduces the risk of enlargement of the stroke area by preventing penumbra cell death.

Surgical treatment, regardless of the type of stroke. Unlike other drugs, Semax is used for both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes.

Saving a person's life and reducing the degree of disability after a stroke.

Thanks to the obtained clinical results, it can be stated that today Semax is one of the most effective drugs for the treatment of stroke.

This means that the chances of avoiding disability after a stroke and returning to normal life are significantly increased. If you are already in trouble, and one of your relatives has already been hospitalized, use Semax 1% in addition to the prescribed drugs.

Always at hand

Semax is available in two forms:

Stroke is one of the most dangerous diseases of the cardiovascular system. According to statistics in Russia, every minute someone has a violation of cerebral circulation - stroke, including microstroke. Stroke occurs even more often than myocardial infarction. Mortality from stroke in the first month is 20-25%, in the first year more than 1/3 of patients die from complications caused by impaired cerebral circulation, and 30-40% become

disabled people. Such depressing statistics are caused not only by the severity of the disease, but also by untimely (unqualified) assistance. Patients who received qualified medical care in the first three hours (maximum 6) have a chance to fully (as far as possible) restore all the functions lost as a result of a stroke. This period (3 hours) even got its name "therapeutic window", then irreversible pathological changes begin.

All patients with such a diagnosis should be hospitalized - especially if cerebrovascular accidents occurred at work, on the street, in transport. The doctor, having made a Computed or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, must determine what caused the violation of cerebral circulation: blockage of blood vessels or hemorrhage. If this is a hemorrhage (Hemorrhagic stroke), then in which place it occurred, it is also necessary to restore the work of the vessels as soon as possible and remove the blood. If there is a blockage of blood vessels, then the doctor will inject a drug that dissolves the blood clot.

The first symptoms of a stroke

The disease proceeds individually for everyone. The symptoms of a stroke depend on what type of stroke the person has and what area of ​​the brain is damaged. The most common symptoms:

headache;

dizziness, sometimes accompanied nausea, vomiting;

possible loss of consciousness;

weakness, numbness in half of the face, paralysis in the arm, in the leg;

violation of speech, memory, ability to reason logically;

increased pain in half of the body.

If at least two of the above symptoms appear in you, a family member, a colleague, it is a reason to immediately call an ambulance. Describe the symptoms to the dispatcher so that the ambulance team arrives well prepared, with a planned action plan. Do not self-medicate, remember that you have three hours to return to normal life.

Actions before the arrival of the doctor

The patient must be laid down with a pillow under his head, shoulders and shoulder blades, so that the head is at an angle of approximately 30 ° to the bed, floor, bench ... Provide access to fresh air, to do this, remove tight clothing, unbutton the shirt collar, open the window, if there is an air conditioner - turn it on. Remove removable dentures.

If there is vomiting, turn your head to the side, wrap your hand with a clean handkerchief or gauze and clean your mouth of vomit. Throwing them into the respiratory tract threatens with a severe form of pneumonia, which will then be difficult to fight.

Be sure to measure your blood pressure. It used to be considered: if it is increased, it should be reduced to 120/80 mm Hg. Art. A sharp decrease in pressure is no less dangerous than its high values! What to do? Usually a person knows his "working" numbers. For example, he feels good at 150/80 mmHg. Art. It is necessary to focus on numbers that exceed the "working" ones by 5-10 mm Hg. Art., and give an antihypertensive drug (preferably the one to which the victim is accustomed, uses in Everyday life). A sharp drop in blood pressure can increase the focus of ischemia, which in turn will cause new disorders, in particular, paresis can turn into paralysis.

Something to relieve pressure? Are you afraid of overdosing your medicine? Do not be alarmed and consider if blood pressure has increased to 180 mm Hg. Art. in a person who did not suffer from arterial hypertension, and up to 200 mm Hg. Art. - in hypertensive patients, this is not very scary. Better not to correct it at all. You can resort to non-drug methods: ask the patient to inhale deeply and hold the breath for as long as possible. It is very important to measure the pulse. After all, some types of stroke are caused just atrial fibrillation. If the pulse "breaks", give the patient the drug that he usually takes in such cases. Do not self-medicate, do not inject any drugs that affect the vessels and structures of the brain! Glycine (aminoacetic acid) may be recommended. In a critical situation, it is recommended to give it one gram (10 tablets under the tongue) per dose or 5 tablets 3 times with an interval of 30 minutes. It will not bring any harm and will ease the course of the disease.

If the stroke attack happened on the street, your steps to help are similar. Have someone call an ambulance. Lay down the victim. Make sure that he does not choke on vomit, provide air access by unbuttoning the buttons, belt, belt. The decision is always unequivocal - it is necessary to take to the hospital. If it is not possible to call an ambulance, take the patient by any transport, remember the "therapeutic window".

If you use personal transport, then unfold the car seat, lay the patient down (at an angle of 30 °), be sure to remove dentures, turn his head to one side and make sure that he does not choke on his own saliva or vomit. Do not forget the sphygmomanometer, measure your blood pressure and pulse. Even if you have nothing to correct them, information about the changes will help doctors make a correct diagnosis and quickly begin adequate treatment.

A stroke is an acute violation of blood circulation in the brain. This is one of the serious diseases that can lead to lethal outcome or disability. Very rare after stroke a person manages to feel great. As a rule, it is customary to distinguish two types of strokes: ischemic and hemorrhagic, the treatment methods for which are different from each other.

What causes a stroke and how to recognize it?

A disease such as a stroke is more common in older people and can be caused by various factors. The main reasons for its development are as follows:

How to identify the first symptoms of a stroke?

Any person should know what to do when the first symptoms of a stroke appear, since different situations happen in life and sometimes help to a sick person needs to be provided immediately. But, first of all, you need to understand that the patient has a stroke, and not another disease, for this you need to perform the following actions:

It is worth noting that the doctor's help is especially important in the first 40-60 minutes after the first signs of a stroke appear.

Therefore, you need to immediately call a doctor, and if possible, take the patient to a specialized department of the hospital.

In addition, the disease has special precursors, thanks to which it is possible to distinguish a pathology such as a stroke from a number of others. The first signs of the disease include the following conditions:

What should be done, what should not?

The type of stroke that occurs in a person determines the course of treatment. Before proceeding with first aid measures at home, you need to call a doctor and the dispatcher to describe in as much detail as possible the condition of the patient and what is happening to him. If he gives any recommendations according to first aid, they must be followed.

If we are talking about ischemic stroke, then you need to adhere to the following recommendations:

But, as mentioned above, there is a big difference between the two types of stroke, which concerns not only first aid methods, but also the manifestation of the disease itself.

In order to alleviate the patient's condition with hemorrhagic stroke, you need to listen to the following recommendations:

Often, with a disease such as a stroke, the patient refuses to provide first aid and go to the doctor, as he believes that the disease will soon pass, and his condition will improve. In this case, it is impossible to listen to him, since it is worth remembering that his brain function is disrupted.

In the event that the patient's heart has stopped, it is necessary to perform artificial respiration or chest compressions.

It is advisable not to move a person who has had an attack, leave him where everything happened, if nothing threatens his life in this place.

So, if a person has a stroke on the road, of course, he needs to be moved to a safer place without obstructing the passage of cars.

What to do before the ambulance arrives?

It was described above what measures can be taken at home before the ambulance arrives if you know what type of stroke the patient has. But sometimes there are cases when it is not possible to identify exactly what type of disease a person has, and therefore any wrong actions can only harm a person’s health. That is why doctors have developed a set of first aid measures at home in the event that it is not clear what type of stroke we are talking about:

It is necessary to measure blood pressure at home even before the ambulance arrives and record the time at which the measurement was made, these data must be reported to the arriving doctor. You also need to remember at what time the person had a stroke. Based on these data, the doctor will select the treatment. After the arrival of the ambulance to the hospital, the person who witnessed the stroke should go with the patient.

It also happens that while helping a person who has lost consciousness, the Chinese method is used. It consists in pricking each finger of the hand with a needle, thereby causing capillary bleeding, and bringing the patient to consciousness. Before performing such actions, you need to sterilize the needle well and process it under fire.

Also, the Chinese use another method for stroke, which is effective for curvature of the mouth. It is necessary to rub the earlobes until they turn red, and then prick them several times. Such manipulations will bring the patient to his senses and make the line of the mouth straight. It is worth noting that these methods are not highly valued by Russian medicine, as they can cause a state of shock in the patient.

What can't be done?

The person who will provide first aid must behave calmly and balancedly. Very often, people, due to their inexperience, trying to help the patient, only make things worse, aggravating the state of his health. Do not do the following during a stroke:

The first thing to do with signs of a stroke is to call an ambulance team and try to improve the patient's condition before she arrives. If you yourself do not know what to do, you can ask the doctor how you can help the patient when making a call.

It is worth remembering that first aid for a stroke is a necessary measure, provided that it is performed correctly. Indeed, thanks to timely assistance, it is possible to stop the progression of an acute life-threatening condition.