Managing a Stroke When There Is No Doctor: BE FAST

A difficult medical condition to manage now with modern technology,
stroke will be every bit as common in an uncertain future.  Maybe even more common as stress levels
rise.  How can we prepare?

A stroke occurs when brain cells die due to restricted
circulation to the brain.  Which brain
cells die determine the effects the stroke has.

There are two kinds of stroke:

• The cerebrovascular accident (CVA) stroke symptoms are still
  present to some extent 24 hours later.

• The transient ischemic attack (TIA), or resolved stroke or
  mini-stroke, symptoms are completely resolved within 24 hours.[1]  (Note that about 20% of TIA patients will
  have a major stroke in the near future. 
  Get diabetes, hypertension, and heart issues under control ASAP to
  reduce the stroke risk.[2])

In addition, there are two types of stroke syndromes:

• In a hemispheric
  stroke, the patient presents with one-sided weakness or altered sensation.  In addition, there may be speech, swallowing,
  and/or comprehension difficulties.

• With a cerebellar
  stroke, the patient exhibits problems with balance, coordination, and/or
  speech.[3]

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

In an effort to help the public quickly identify a stroke and
call for emergency help, medical associations have introduced several
acronyms.  Most Americans are familiar
with FAST:

FAST screening test:

• Facial symmetry

• Arm droop

• Speech problems

• Time to call 911

BE FAST was
introduced in 2022.  It includes:

• Balance and coordination

• Eyes—sudden blurred or double vision or loss of vision, without
  any pain

• Facial symmetry

• Arm droop

• Speech problems

• Time to call 911

FASTER

• Facial symmetry

• Arm droop

• Stability on the feet

• Talking—changes in speech or inability to respond properly

• Eyes—loss of vision or partial loss, or blurred or double vision

• React—call 911

Men and women commonly experience the above signs and symptoms.  However, the signs of a stroke in women can
also be more subtle, often resulting in unfortunate delays in treatment.  Women may exhibit these symptoms:

• Nausea[4] [5]

• Vomiting[6] [7]

• Fatigue[8]

• Confusion[9]

• Memory
  issues[10]

• Convulsions[11]

Less common symptoms:

• Face may be
  flushed[12] or it may become pale[13]

• Pupils often
  unequal[14]

• Pulse is
  full and rapid[15]
  (Werner says strong and slow.) [16]

• Breathing is
  labored and irregular[17] [18]

• Mouth may be
  drawn to one side[19]

• Difficulty
  in speaking and swallowing[20]

• Rapidly
  developing loss of consciousness[21]

• Flabby,
  relaxed paralysis of the affected side of the body[22]

• Severe headache[23]

In more serious cases the patient may be comatose for hours
or days.[24]  When a stroke is fatal, death usually occurs
within 2-14 days.[25]  The extent of permanent paralysis won’t be
able to be determined for up to six months.[26]

TREATMENT

With modern technology and rapid emergency care, many of the
potential effects of strokes can be mitigated or entirely resolved.  Without hospitals, treatment becomes more
primitive.

Administer 300 mg aspirin at the first sign.  Implement a daily aspirin or willow-bark tea
regiment for preventing recurrence.[27]   

Folk remedies include administering 2 full droppers of
cayenne tincture under the tongue at the first sign.^[28]   Lavender oil aromatherapy within the first 24
hours of a stroke was shown to reduce permanent effects in mice.^[29]  Lamb’s quarter, DMSO, and magnesium oil may
also prove helpful in mitigating long-term effects.

Patients able to swallow may be given liquids and soft
foods.

Unconscious patients should be placed in bed with the head,
trunk of body, and shoulders elevated slightly on pillows and on the left side.[30] The head should be turned
to the side so that fluids can flow out of the mouth.  No food, drink, or medicine should be given
by mouth.[31]  The patient should be turned every 3-4 hours
to prevent bedsores.[32]

The statistics show that 10% of stroke patients will experience
complete recovery; 25% will be minimally impaired.  Most recovery is seen soon after the
event.  However, rehabilitation therapy
will facilitate further improvements.[33]   Alton’s Survival Medicine Handbook, 4^th
Edition, provides the most direction for stroke rehab among the top off-grid
medicine texts.

PREVENTION

Most of the recommendations for preventing a stroke are the
same as those for preventing a heart attack: 

• Exercise

• Healthy diet

• No tobacco or alcohol

• Good management of medical conditions like high cholesterol,
  high blood pressure, and diabetes[34]

In addition, laughing daily has also been shown to reduce
the risk of stroke.  So break out the
comic books.

Note.  If a younger or middle aged person suddenly
develops paralysis on one side of the face, lacking any other signs of stroke,
it is most likely Bell’s palsy, a temporary paralysis of the facial nerve.  It usually resolves on its own in a few weeks
or months and the cause is usually unknown. 
No treatment is necessary.  If,
however, an eye doesn’t close at night, it should be bandaged closed to prevent
the eye from drying out.[35] A test to differentiate
between Bell’s palsy and a stroke is that a patient with Bell’s palsy usually
cannot lift the eyebrow on the affected side, whereas a stroke victim usually
can.[36]

Links to related
posts:

Medicinal Uses of Cayenne 

Medicinal Uses of Lavender  

Laughter, the Best Medicine