Reducing Stroke Risk

Reducing Stroke Risk

One of the leading causes of head injuries and broken or fractured bones in nursing homes is accidental falls. On occasion, a fall is a result of a serious medical condition. For instance, a person could fall down because he or she has lost consciousness, or has suffered some sort of muscle paralysis. A resident could fall because he or she is having a stroke. The F.A.S.T. signs of a stroke can be found here.

Recent U.S. Study Finds Women More Likely to Have A Stroke

A recent U.S. study conducted on 1,370 stroke patients has revealed that women tend to suffer more from a poor quality of life post-stroke than do men. The study was conducted by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in North Carolina and focused on assessing the quality of life of survivors of stroke or transient ischemic attack, i.e., a mini-stroke. The study made assessments of physical and mental health three months and one year after a stroke, assessing factors such as self-care, day-to-day activities, mobility, pain, and depression.

Women reported higher rates of depression and anxiety, as well as more frequent pain and discomfort, and more restricted mobility, likely due to their low muscle mass prior to the stroke, thereby making it harder for women to recover mobility. With this being the case, one of the main conclusions of the study was that nursing home staff members should take extra care with stroke survivors, paying particular attention to these specific quality of life issues in women.

Other Stroke Risk Factors

• High blood pressure. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is greater than normal amount of pressure pressing on the blood vessel walls. This pressure can cause weak spots to develop in blood vessels, especially in those blood vessels located in the brain.

• Diabetes. Diabetes can predispose a person to be at risk for having a stroke because two-thirds of those with diabetes also have high blood pressure.

• History of Stroke. A person with a history of stroke has a 40% higher chance of having another stroke in the future.

• Smoking. Smoking is one of the stroke risk factors that are entirely within the control of the affected individual. Smoking reduces the amount of available oxygen in the blood. As such, the heart has to work harder to supply oxygen to the body. Blood clots can form and block arteries, leading to a stroke.

• Obesity. Like smoking, obesity can cause the heart to work harder than normal, which can lead to a stroke. However, this is one of the risk factors of stroke that can be minimized with the right amount of effort. A person’s weight/obesity can be managed with regular exercise, increased physical activity, and proper diet.

Contact An Accidental Fall Attorney

If you or someone you love has been injured as the result of an accidental fall while residing in a nursing home, it is imperative that you contact an experienced nursing home abuse attorney. Please do not hesitate, and contact the attorneys at The Rooth Law Firm online or by phone at (847) 869-9100 for a free consultation today.

Photo Credit: Nicolas Alejandro Street Photography via Compfight cc