What To Do When Someone Is Having a Stroke

What To Do When Someone Is Having a Stroke

When in the presence of someone having a stroke, there are two words you should remember: be fast! A stroke attacks the body and brain incredibly quickly, rapidly destroying nerve tissue as it goes. The Stroke Association reports that two million brain cells die each minute when deprived of oxygen, so the longer it takes to get treatment, the more damage is done to the brain.

Seeing someone have a stroke is alarming, stressful and often scary – but the most important thing to do is stay calm. Today, we’re exploring what to do when someone has a stroke, the symptoms to look for and how you can help them recover.

What is a stroke?

A stroke happens when blood can’t get to your brain, usually because of a blood clot or broken vessel. Without enough oxygenated blood, the brain cells get damaged and die, affecting the body’s functions. Sometimes, only one side of the body is affected.

Strokes are the second most common cause of death and disability in the world. The quicker a stroke can be identified, diagnosed and treated, the more likely it is for a positive outcome. Every second counts, so if you think someone is having a stroke, call 999 immediately.

Identifying a stroke: BE FAST

There are a lot of potential symptoms of a stroke, so there’s an acronym to make it easier to remember – BE FAST:

• Balance: Are they suddenly struggling with a loss of balance?
• Eyes: Have they suddenly lost their sight or are they experiencing changes in one or both eyes?
• Face: Do they have any weakness on one side of their face?
• Arms: Can they raise both of their arms?
• Speech: Are they slurring their speech or having difficulty choosing their words?
• Time: Time to call 999.

Next steps: Call 999

A stroke always needs immediate attention, no matter how mild you think the symptoms are. This is because the effects of a stroke can escalate in an instant. The faster you get a victim medical help, the quicker treatment gets to them and the less damage there may be.

While you’re waiting for the ambulance to arrive, reassure the person affected. Stay calm and keep letting them know that help is on the way. Help them sit or lie down comfortably and continue talking to them.

The dos and don’ts of caring for someone having a stroke

Witnessing someone exhibiting the signs of a stroke can elicit different reactions from everyone, and it’s not uncommon for some to make mistakes. However, some of these mistakes may cost the person affected time, which is what we want to avoid.

Here are some of the dos and don’ts if you see someone having a stroke:

• Do make a note of the time: This will help the emergency services act as efficiently as possible and understand how much time has already passed.
• Don’t drive them to the hospital: It might be tempting to save time by driving them to the hospital, but paramedics are faster and more equipped to recognise when someone’s in trouble.
• Do help them lie down: Lying a victim down on their side with their head slightly elevated promotes blood flow, hopefully slowing down the progression of symptoms.
• Don’t give the person aspirin: Some stroke victims react well to aspirin, while for others it can make things much worse. Leave it to medical professionals to decide whether the benefit outweighs the risk.
• Do loosen their restrictive clothing: Tight clothing, especially compression garments and sports gear, can stop the victim from breathing easily. While loosening their clothes, avoid pulling or straining any of their weakened muscles.
• Don’t give them anything to eat or drink: A stroke might affect the control of their muscles, including the ability to swallow. Giving them anything to eat or drink increases their chances of choking.
• Do check for breathing if they fall unconscious: Check for a pulse along their neck and wrist, and breathing by putting a finger beneath their nose. If there’s no pulse, start CPR immediately.

Other symptoms of a stroke to watch for

The most important signs of a stroke are included in the acronym BE FAST. However, there are several other signs that could be an indicator that they’re suffering from a stroke, including:

• Weakness or numbness on one side of the body
• Difficulty thinking of words or speaking
• Confusion and memory loss
• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded; falling over
• A severe headache
• Feeling or being sick
• Mood swings
• Neck stiffness
• Passing out, fainting or comas
• Seizures
• Sudden worsening or loss of your senses, including vision, hearing, smell, taste and touch

Symptoms of a stroke sometimes stop after a short period of time, which makes people think they’re okay. However, even if this happens, it’s vital to get medical help. This is because, while unlikely, a stroke can continue damaging the brain without showing itself through physical symptoms.

Who is most at risk of a stroke?

Anybody can have a stroke at any time during their life, no matter how old they are. However, some groups of people are at higher risk, including:

• People older than 65 years old
• Those who smoke or use other tobacco products
• Recreational or non-prescription drug users

Certain health conditions may also increase the risk of a stroke, such as:

• Alcohol use disorder
• High blood pressure
• COVID-19
• High cholesterol
• Frequent migraine headaches
• Type 2 diabetes

Supporting someone through recovery from a stroke

When a loved one is discharged from the hospital after a stroke, there are several people who will help them:

Primary healthcare team

Your loved one’s primary healthcare provider will work with the team on their case to come up with a home recovery plan. This may include:

• Physiotherapy to help with movement, especially if they have numbness down one side of the body
• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to help with the mental toll a stroke can take, including anxiety, depression and tiredness
• Activities to improve memory, concentration, mood and thinking abilities
• Exercises to help with poor speech, eyesight and swallowing
• Advice and medications to assist with bowel and bladder incontinence

The recovery plan will depend largely on what symptoms and lasting consequences the victim is experiencing, and healthcare professionals are the best people to determine what to do going forward. They’ll be able to help you get the right equipment and technical support on how to use it to benefit your loved one.

Live-in carers

Recovering at home is often the preferable option to staying in hospital for a prolonged period of time because home settings usually boost mood, offer incentives to get better and make people feel more relaxed.

A live-in carer offers vital support through assisting with daily tasks, offering companionship and fostering independence while being close by in case they’re needed. They offer peace of mind to both the stroke survivor and their loved ones, as you know they’re in good hands and are being monitored for a relapse in symptoms.

Here are just some of the ways a live-in carer can help someone dealing with the aftermath of a stroke:

• Assistance with daily living: Help with tasks such as bathing, dressing, toileting, personal hygiene and dignity.
• Mobility support: Assistance with walking and getting around the house while reducing the risk of falls.
• Meal preparation: Meal plan and prepare nutritious meals and snacks, helping to heat them up or leaving them where your loved one can serve themselves.
• Medication management: Check that medications are being taken at the right times, that no side effects occur and that prescriptions are filled on time.
• Companionship: It may be difficult to get out of the house to socialise after a stroke, so a carer can provide companionship and a listening ear whenever necessary.
• Monitoring: Observe changes in mood and behaviour, and communicate these to family members and healthcare professionals.
• Supporting recovery: Make sure victims are completing their physiotherapy and speech therapy prescribed after a stroke.
• Promoting independence: Feeling like you have to rely on someone for everything, especially after previously being able to do things on your own, can be very alarming. Carers promote independence in victims to avoid them becoming dependent, isolated and depressed.

For more information on how a carer can help, download our live-in care guide, where you’ll find plenty of information on our services and what our carers can do for your loved one.

How Trinity Homecare can help

At Trinity Homecare, our carers have over 25 years of experience caring for stroke survivors from the comfort of their own homes. We offer bespoke care and support for all of our clients, tailored depending on exactly how their stroke has affected them. Stroke recovery can be slow and steady, so we’ll pair your loved one with a one-to-one carer who knows and understands this for ultimate support.

The care we provide includes:

• One-to-one support at home
• Completely bespoke live-in care that has been tailored to you
• Specialist care for a number of different circumstances
• Home carers carefully matched to your needs
• CQC rated ‘Outstanding’ live-in care services

Our carers aren’t just there to aid recovery and help around the house – they can also keep an eye on the bigger picture, looking out for any changes in their condition that might hint at a recurring stroke. Around 40% of stroke survivors have moderate to severe impairments, with 10% recovering completely. We aim to offer your loved one the best chance at making a full recovery, while keeping their independence and dignity a priority.

Talk to us today

If your loved one requires home care, chat with one of our friendly care team today. We offer a free, no-obligation enquiry and assessment service and are happy to offer information and advice to help you find the perfect home care solution.

Call us on 020 4572 5583 in confidence for a free no obligation quotation. If enquiring outside of our opening hours, please complete our online form and we will contact you the next day.