Stroke is a serious medical emergency that occurs when there is an interruption in the blood supply to the brain, causing brain cells to die. In the United States alone, stroke is responsible for one out of every 20 deaths.
Platforms like Medditour connects the patients seeking long term support for stroke with the international hospitals and facilitators so as to enable them get affordable treatments with no delay in time.
In this article, we will discuss how to manage a stroke emergency, how to treat stroke for complete recovery in the long term, and how medical tourism can help in treating stroke on a long-term basis.
Managing a Stroke Emergency
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. First step in managing a stroke emergency is to recognize the symptoms. Its symptoms include,
- Weakness arising suddenly on one side
- Confusion arising suddenly leading to trouble in understanding and speaking
- Trouble arising in seeing properly
- Sudden dizziness or loss of balance in body
- Loss of coordination among the body parts
- Severe headache arising suddenly without any particular reason
If you or someone around you experiences any of these symptoms, it is important to call for medical emergency services immediately. The faster the person can receive medical attention, the better their chances of recovery.
While waiting for emergency medical services to arrive, it is important to keep the person calm and comfortable.
Treating stroke for complete recovery in the long term
Once a stroke has been diagnosed, the medical team will work to determine the best course of treatment. The type of treatment will depend on several factors, including the type of stroke, the severity of the symptoms, and the patient’s overall health.
The most common types of stroke treatments include,
- Clot-busting medication: In some cases, a medication called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can be given to break up the blood clot that caused the stroke. This medication must be given within the first few hours after the stroke occurs, so it is important to act fast.
- Mechanical thrombectomy: In some cases, a small catheter can be inserted into the brain to physically remove the blood clot that caused the stroke. This procedure is usually done in conjunction with clot-busting medication.
- Rehabilitation: Once the acute phase of the stroke has been treated, rehabilitation can begin. This may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, depending on the patient’s needs. The goal of rehabilitation is to help the patient regain as much function as possible and improve their quality of life.
Alliance Homecare states that researchers have observed a wide range of life expectancy changes in stroke patients, but the average reduction in lifespan is nine and a half years.
Medical tourism and treating stroke in the long term
When it comes to stroke treatment, medical tourism can be a good option for several reasons. Some countries have more advanced stroke treatment options than others. For example, some hospitals in India, Malaysia, Thailand, Dubai, Turkey, and Singapore have state-of-the-art equipment for treating strokes, including 24-hour stroke units and specialized rehabilitation programs. Once the emergency has been managed immediately in the home country, long term treatments and rehabilitation can be done at medical tourism destinations.
Medical tourism companies like Medditour help the patients in combining their treatments and rehabilitation with vacation. In general, the rehab centers in medical tourism destinations are often located in exotic locations, which would bring about lot of relaxation to patients. This could be highly helpful in quick recovery.
Additionally, medical tourism can be more affordable than receiving treatment in the United States. In some cases, the cost of treatment can be as much as 80% less in other countries.
In conclusion, stroke is a medical emergency that causes interruption in the blood supply to the brain. This can even lead to death. It is important to manage the emergency arising out of the stroke condition and also provide long-term treatments and rehabilitation to make the patients completely recover from it. Medical tourism plays a vital role in case of providing specialized rehabilitation, a long-term treatment required for complete recovery of patients.