Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, and it’s also a leading cause of serious long-term disabilities. While most strokes occur in people aged 65 years or older, they can occur at any age. Identifying the symptoms of stroke and calling 9-1-1 immediately if someone appears to be having one is crucial! New treatments are available that can reduce the damage caused by stroke for some individuals, but only if the stroke is caught in its very earliest stages.
What Is Stroke?
Stroke is a brain attack that cuts off vital blood flow and oxygen to the brain. Two million brain cells die every minute during stroke, increasing the risk of permanent brain damage, disability, or death.
Who Is Most Susceptible to Stroke?
Stroke can happen to anyone at any time, regardless of race, sex, or age. Approximately 55,000 more women than men have a stroke each year. Men’s stroke incidence rates are greater than women’s at younger ages, but not older ages. African Americans have almost twice the risk of first-ever stroke.
What Are the Most Common Stroke Symptoms?
Common stroke symptoms include:
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg — especially on one side of the body.
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or coordination
What Is the FAST Test?
The FAST test is a method of recognizing and responding to stroke symptoms:
| F = FACE | Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop? |
| A = ARMS | Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? |
| S = SPEECH | Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Does the speech sound slurred or strange? |
| T = TIME | If you observe any of these signs, it’s time to call 9-1-1 or get to the nearest stroke center or hospital. |
How VCI Mobility Can Help Stroke Survivors
VCI Mobility can be of great assistance during recovery from a stroke and/or through the process of living with the mobility loss that stroke can cause.
Mobility Solutions for Stroke Survivors – Two Major Considerations
Consideration # 1: Extent of Mobility Loss/Type of Mobility Loss
While a very severe stroke may cause complete loss of mobility, fortunately the majority of stroke victims suffer only partial disability loss, meaning that they do not usually become full-time wheelchair users. Our job at VCI Mobility is to work with the survivor and his or her caretaker(s) to understand the extent of the disability and to determine solutions that will offer as much freedom and access to transportation as possible.
If a person has a slight physical disability, he or she may need only a grab handle or support to help get in and out of the car. If the disability is greater (i.e., causing the need to use a scooter or walker to move about), we typically recommend a wheelchair/scooter lift to aid in stowing and transporting the scooter or wheelchair. “Backsaving” lifts such as these allow people to more easily lift and stow a very heavy device.
In addition, there are special “assistive seats” available that will turn out of the vehicle and lower so people can easily sit on them and be lifted into the car. Assistive seats make the prospect of getting in and out of the car much less daunting than regular car seats.
For those who are full-time wheelchair users, wheelchair vans are generally the best mobility solution. Wheelchair vans can accommodate a user’s need to enter and exit a vehicle while seated in a wheelchair. Minivans such as the Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, or Chrysler Town & Country can be made to be extremely wheelchair accessible by the addition of a wheelchair ramp and a lowered-floor conversion.
VCI Mobility has a number of products to choose from that can accommodate your level of disability, the amount of assistance you desire, and the budget you have. In addition, these products are made to work in a wide variety of cars, minivans, and trucks. Our expert Professional Sales Consultants can help you understand which products may be best for you.
Consideration # 2: Prognosis for Recovery and Rehabilitation
A survivor’s prognosis for recovery is a critical consideration. Many people are able to recover much of their mobility through time, rehabilitation, and the body’s natural ability to heal. For this reason, some people may benefit more from renting a wheelchair van on an as-needed basis during the early stages of his or her recovery, as opposed to purchasing one. In the event a stroke survivor is able to recover to the point that he or she is no longer a full-time wheelchair user, that person will be able to then acquire a mobility solution that is more appropriate for longer-term needs.
As the mobility needs of each individual affected by stroke are unique, so are the products that VCI Mobility can provide. Whether you need adaptive driving aids, assistive seating, or an accessible vehicle, VCI Mobility is your one-stop mobility resource. Our experienced Professional Sales Consultants will work with you to determine how your condition may change over the years, in order to ensure that we provide you with the best possible mobility solution.
Getting the Word Out
During the month of May, the National Stroke Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other organizations work to get the word out about stroke awareness and stoke prevention. Recently, the National Stroke Association also announced its new Stroke Awareness Resource Center.
The Resource Center provides tools for people to use to help join the effort to raise stroke awareness, including flyers, posters, e-mail tips, fact sheets, support group discussion guides, personal fundraising information, and more.
In addition, the National Stroke Association, in conjunction with Allsup (a nationwide provider of Social Security disability, Medicare plan selection, and disability life planning services), has developed resources to help stroke survivors and their families understand and work their way through the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) process and ease the financial burdens of after-stroke care. An information brochure entitled Stroke and SSDI has been distributed to stroke support groups and rehabilitation facilities nationwide. The brochure is also available online at National Stroke Association.
How Can the Risk of Stroke Be Reduced?
Everyone has some stroke risk. Some risk factors are beyond your control, including being over age 55, being a male (stroke is more common in men than women at younger ages, but more women experience stroke at older ages and more women than men die from stroke), being African American, having diabetes, and/or having a family history of stroke.
Despite these uncontrollable risk factors, there are many things that each of us can do to lower our chances of having a stroke:
- Prevent and control high blood pressure
- Prevent and control diabetes
- Abstain from tobacco use
- Drink alcohol only in moderation
- Prevent and control high blood cholesterol
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Participate in regular physical activity
- Maintain a healthy diet
Resources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Stroke Association.