According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an American suffers a stroke every 40 seconds, and approximately 750,000 new strokes per year take place across the nation. When a stroke occurs, it deprives the brain of oxygen, which can cause disability and death; because of this condition’s severe health implications, time is a crucial factor in stroke treatment and recovery. Learn about the stroke timeline, including why time is critical for treatment, and find out how an experienced New Mexico medical negligence attorney can assist individuals who did not receive prompt treatment when suffering a stroke; contact Erin Marshall Law today to book a consultation by calling (505) 218-9949.
What Is a Stroke?
A stroke is an emergency medical situation that takes place when a person experiences a blockage in a blood vessel supplying the brain due to fatty deposits or blood clots, referred to as an ischemic stroke, or a burst or leaking brain-supplying blood vessel, called a hemorrhagic stroke, typically caused by aneurysms and high blood pressure. In both types of stroke, the brain either sustains damage or dies as a result of a lack of oxygenated blood, which quickly kills brain cells, leading to long-term brain damage, disability, or death. Stroke symptoms usually include drooping facial expressions, difficulty raising arms evenly, and the inability to speak entirely or speak without slurring words.
Understanding the Stroke Timeline
A timeline associated with a stroke refers to the key milestones linked to stroke treatment and recovery. The main stages in this timeline are as follows.
Initial Treatment
When suffering a stroke, a hospital typically admits the patient to its emergency department, possibly in the department’s acute or intensive care unit, where the doctors can stabilize the individual’s condition and identify the stroke type. The treatments for strokes vary widely, depending on the stroke type, severity, and the patient’s current condition. These treatments include medicines, surgery, and other medical procedures, some of which require immediate implementation to work correctly.
The Weeks Following a Stroke
Most stroke patients remain in the hospital for several days following treatment. During this period, various medical professionals formulate a plan to rehabilitate the patient, taking into consideration the individual’s cognitive, physical, and emotional symptoms, which vary depending on the impacted part of the brain and stroke severity. To determine the affected brain areas and begin the recovery process, the patient may complete occupational, speech-language, and physical therapy a maximum of six times per day spent in the hospital; rehabilitation at this stage usually focuses on performing daily living activities, such as food preparation and bathing, as well as performing tasks requested by the patient, like those linked to work and hobbies, achieved through therapy and the patient’s own practice sessions.
Since strokes can lead to emotional and cognitive effects, neuropsychologists and rehabilitation psychologists may help identify these obstacles and develop a plan for enhancing cognitive function and helping the patient adjust to long-lasting lifestyle changes. Planning the patient’s discharge is the next step, which depends on the patient’s level of impaired functions; generally, the patient may go home if they can carry out most of their daily activities at home and/or have friends or family available to help the patient complete these tasks. Contact Erin Marshall Law today to obtain an improved understanding of the stroke timeline and arrange a consultation with a seasoned Albuquerque medical negligence lawyer.
A Few Months Post-Stroke
Post-stroke, the first few months are critical to patient recovery and is usually the period showing the most significant improvement. Individuals typically begin inpatient rehabilitation programs or start more advanced outpatient therapy sessions during this period, aiming to obtain pre-stroke function or learn strategies for living with an impairment. In the initial months following a stroke, patients might experience the following:
- Spontaneous recovery: This phenomenon occurs when an individual suddenly recovers their ability to perform a skill previously lost as a result of suffering a stroke.
- Continued health complications: Unfortunately, some patients experience more health complications in this period, including heart attacks, additional strokes, or pneumonia, which can severely impact patients emotionally, physically, and mentally, as well as in terms of their rehabilitation progress.
- New rehabilitation techniques: As new rehabilitation techniques become available, stroke patients might opt into these methods to aid in their recovery process. Examples include the use of new injectable enzymes for treating muscle stiffness and spasticity, noninvasive brain stimulation for enhancing the impact of therapy, and technology-assisted rehabilitation.
Long-Term Recovery
While possible to achieve, health improvements six months after experiencing a stroke and beyond happen much more slowly, with most patients achieving a stable condition during this time, either by making a complete recovery or learning to live with ongoing impairments. Typically, several factors can influence whether patients recover completely or have long-term health implications, such as the stroke’s severity, the speed of administering preliminary treatment, and the effectiveness of the rehabilitation program. Meeting with members of the patient’s healthcare team remains critical at this point, who can assist with making improvements to the patient’s health.
Why Is Time Important for Stroke Treatment?
Time is a highly important factor concerning stroke treatment since millions of brain cells die per minute when the brain loses blood supply; quickly identifying a stroke improves the speed of administering treatment, which can improve patient outcomes. Hospitals utilize imaging tests to determine the extent of the damage caused by the stroke and appropriate treatments, which is vital since specific stroke treatments are most effective during certain periods.
For instance, the quicker the administration of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and thrombolytic medicines, the greater the chance of preventing irreversible health consequences; similarly with required surgery, performing these procedures as soon as possible can help mitigate health issues. Here are some factors to consider regarding timeliness and stroke diagnosis and treatment:
- Stroke diagnosis: To rapidly diagnose a stroke, patients typically undergo a CT scan immediately after admittance to the hospital, ideally no longer than 25 minutes after arrival. Following this, a radiologist states whether the patient suffered a stroke and nurses then quickly administer medication.
- Stroke treatment: Ischemic stroke treatment typically encompasses intravenously administered alteplase or tPA, which are most effective within a three-hour period of symptoms showing but can still work within four and a half hours; another treatment for these strokes involves the prompt insertion of catheters to reach the blocked vessel. Treatment options for hemorrhagic strokes can include medications, but due to their severity, often involve performing surgery or other medical procedures as soon as possible to prevent blood leaking and reduce the pressure exerted on the brain.
Speak to a New Mexico Medical Negligence Attorney To Find Out More
Per the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the window of time for administering treatment is a key factor for effectively managing stroke. In terms of stroke treatment, the ideal timeline is as soon as possible, ideally within an hour and no more than a few hours, whereas the stroke recovery timeline differs depending on the individual and stroke severity. Find out more about the stroke timeline, as well as its importance, and discover how a New Mexico medical negligence lawyer from Erin Marshall Law might aid those who have suffered a stroke with their legal queries; call our firm today at (505) 218-9949 to discuss your case and legal options.
