Stroke identification

[simplyme]

Originally Posted by commonsense

Strokes run in mothers' family. Both of her parents had strokes. One brother had a stroke and another had a heart attack. Both of my grandparents spent their last years in a nursing home.

My mother had a stroke when she was 83. Seven months later she had another stroke. The second stroke affected brain function and she had to be put in a nursing home.
She lived another 18 mos in the nursing home . She'd talk with you but didn't know who you were.

I know that I need to be very aware of stroke symtoms.
It may not help but I have low blood pressure. When I had the medical procedure test last week the initial reading was 119/70. Not bad for a seasoned citizen!

My mother and grandmother both took high blood pressure medication. And my brother and sister are both on high blood pressure medication.

Are any of them overweight? Just curious 'cause mosttimes docs blame it
on the weight., IF that person with hypertension is also overweight.

[Esther]

Originally Posted by HeavenlyOne

If one has a hemorrhagic stroke, the shot will kill.

Can they tell that before they give you the shot?

[commonsense]

Originally Posted by simplyme

Are any of them overweight? Just curious 'cause mosttimes docs blame it
on the weight., IF that person with hypertension is also overweight.

My mother and brother, yes.
My grandmother and sister, no. (and bil, weight probably underweight and takes high bp meds)

And changing famiiles, my mil is not overweight and takes high blood pressure medication also, AND she's 94!!!!

I should lose a "couple" lbs.... and if I lost weight my BP would be 90/60. When I started giving blood donations in 1985 they'd take BP a second time to make sure I was alive

[HeavenlyOne]

Originally Posted by Esther

Can they tell that before they give you the shot?

Yes, but keep in mind that only about 5% of strokes are hemorrhagic. In addition, the shot is the last resort. Chances are, if they give it, it's because no other options are available. If the person dies, it's not necessarily because of the shot either.

It's just like the protocol used for heart attack victims. Sometimes, they still die, but we can't blame it on the meds they were given that were supposed to prevent further damage. Sometimes, the damage is too much for even the best docs to do anything about.