Stroke is a serious and potentially life-threatening medical condition. A stroke is caused by an interruption of blood flow to the brain, which can result in a range of symptoms, including numbness, weakness, and paralysis. If left untreated, stroke can lead to permanent brain damage or even death. It is therefore important to have the right knowledge and skills on how to treat stroke patients in Singapore so that you can provide them with timely treatment and care.
What is a stroke?
A stroke is a condition that causes blood flow to the brain to be interrupted. The brain needs blood to work properly, and without blood flow, it can no longer function properly.
Strokes can also be caused by a severe injury to the brain, such as a car accident or a fall. The symptoms of stroke depend on which part of the brain is affected. There are two types of stroke.
1) Ischemic stroke
This is caused by a blockage in the arteries that supply blood to the brain. It can be caused by a blockage in the blood vessels that provide blood supply to the brain, or by bleeding or hemorrhage in the brain itself.
2) Hemorrhagic stroke
This is caused by a severe injury to the brain, such as a car accident or a fall. The symptoms of hemorrhagic stroke depend on which part of the brain is affected.
Symptoms of stroke
Stroke patients may experience symptoms such as:
- Numbness and tingling in parts of their body
- Loss of movement or weakness in one side of their body
- Vision problems
- Trouble speaking
- Memory problems
- Loss of consciousness
- Confusion
- Inability to walk or stand up
- Pain on one side of their body
- Sudden loss of balance and dizziness
- Paralysis (unable to move one side of their body)
- Headache, nausea, vomiting, and/or confusion after they fall down or have been hit by something while they are awake.
Treatment for stroke patients in Singapore
The best way to treat a stroke is to get it treated as soon as possible. This can be done through early detection and prompt treatment. If a stroke is caught in time, it can be prevented from causing permanent damage to the brain. The sooner a stroke is detected, the more effective treatment will be.
Stabilization of stroke patients
Patients with a stroke will usually need to be taken to hospital for assessment and stabilization before further treatment can begin. You should keep in mind that if you treat your patient at home, there is a higher risk of complications arising from misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis.
Hospitalization
Stroke patients may need to stay in the hospital for 2-4 days depending on their condition and response to treatment.
Prescription of medications
Some medications may need to be prescribed by your doctor, including intravenous antibiotics and steroids if needed.
Monitoring of condition
Your doctor will monitor your patient’s condition while they are being treated in hospital and follow up with them after they have been discharged.
Follow-up appointments
After discharge, you should follow up with your patient by scheduling regular appointments with their doctor so that you can monitor their condition and ensure that they are doing well.
Useful tips on how to care for stroke patients in Singapore
The following information is meant to provide you with a better understanding of stroke care in Singapore and some helpful tips on how to deal with it. It is important to note that no two people are the same, so the recommendations listed here may not be suitable for you. You can choose between home treatment and hospital-based care.
Hospital-based care is usually more convenient and practical for stroke patients, but it also requires you to make a greater effort to seek medical help. This can be very difficult for stroke patients who are elderly or disabled.
For stroke patients who cannot move around on their own, there are special wheelchair-accessible lifts and ramps in all public hospitals in Singapore. There are also 24-hour ambulance services available to take stroke patients to the nearest hospital. If you want to receive home treatment, you should know that some medications may not be readily available in Singapore, so it is best if you travel abroad to obtain them.
Depending on the severity of your stroke, you may require assistance from family members or caregivers during your stroke rehabilitation and recovery period. The following tips will help your family members provide better care:
- Family members should provide basic medical support by monitoring your health and helping with daily activities such as bathing and dressing.
- They should also encourage you to get out of bed and try walking around when they can assist you with this task.
- They should call an ambulance if they see any sudden changes in your condition, such as:
- Any loss of consciousness.
- Decrease in your ability to move your arms or legs.
- Any sudden changes in your level of consciousness.
- A change in the color of your skin or lips.
- Any sudden decrease in urine output.
In conclusion
Home care for stroke patients is also important as it helps you recover more quickly. There are several ways that you can help yourself at home:
- Keeping a food and fluid intake chart for you to record what you eat and drink.
- Taking your medication as prescribed by the doctor if you are taking medication for stroke.
- Adopt a healthy lifestyle. Trying to walk whenever possible, even if it is only a few steps at a time.
- Avoiding situations that could lead to another stroke, such as getting up too quickly from a sitting position or not getting enough sleep.
- Trying to reduce stress in your life, such as problems with money, family problems, or work problems, by seeking professional help if necessary.
- Contact your doctor or occupational therapist regularly to discuss how you are feeling and whether any changes need to be made to your medications or stroke treatment plan so that they can continue to be effective for you during the recovery period and reduce the risk of further strokes occurring in the future.
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading this article! Check out our other blog articles for more additional information on eldercare in Singapore.
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