Health
Can a CPR Online Certification help a Stroke Patient?
Have you heard of a person collapsing with a stroke? Do you want to know about this ailment and how to deal with it?
Answering yes to the above means you understand the term. However, not many people understand the word entirely.
You may have also had someone in the family suffer from this ailment.
A stroke is often not fatal but could turn ugly if left untreated. The patient could become paralyzed for life.
Recovery is possible, but the process takes a long time. Throughout this article, you will learn three essential things related to strokes:
- It talks about the various types of stroke.
- It also takes you through their symptoms for better identification.
- The blog discusses the relationship between a CPR online certification and stroke recovery.
What causes a stroke?
The organ affected by stroke is the brain. The problem occurs in the brain’s blood vessels, leading to its cells dying prematurely.
When brain cells die, it stops nerve conduction to a particular body part. Strokes have three major divisions.
- Hemorrhagic Stroke: This stroke is common in people with high blood pressure. In it, the blood vessels in the brain rupture or burst. People on high doses of blood thinners could also experience this problem due to leaks.
- Ischemic Stroke: Doctors term it as the most common type of stroke. It happens when the blood vessels in the brain get blocked. This blockage results in loss of blood supply, gradually killing the brain cells. Most people have this problem due to fat deposits in the arteries carrying blood to the brain.
- Transient Ischemic Stroke: This third type of stroke is temporary, and the damage done here is less. The cause of this stroke is also fat deposit, which only limits the blood supply for a short duration. This stroke should not last over five minutes. Even if the stroke clears, you must visit the doctor for a complete examination.
How to identify a stroke?
Witnessing a person undergo a stroke is one of the most confusing experiences. A stroke occurs inside the human, and you cannot hear an artery burst.
So how does this ailment show itself? If you witness the episode in someone else, you will most likely notice one of the below problems.
- The other person may suddenly have trouble speaking. They could even have difficulty understanding you. Doctors call this slurred speech, where their tongue and mind do not correlate.
- A clear indication of a stroke is a droopy mouth when the person tries to smile. You could notice the person on one side of the face drooping. They could also have paralysis on one side of the body.
- If someone complains of sudden vision blurriness, you need to ask them to sit down. Strokes often cause problems with sight.
- This person could show loss of balance, sudden episodes of losing control over their walk or falling.
It is important to remember that the person suffering from a stroke will not know about it.
They only realize something is off if their water or food starts falling out of their mouth. Some people judge their miss coordinated hands and could ask for help.
As a bystander or relative, the best you can do is ensure they do not hurt themselves upon falling. It would help if you dialed the Emergency Response Team on priority.
How could CPR help a patient suffering from a stroke?
The cause of a stroke does not lie in the heart or lungs. But as the brain controls all body organs, a stroke could affect anything.
However, heart ailments and strokes do go hand in hand. If a person suffers from a stroke, you must let them calm down and ensure you have called for help.
Almost 13% of people who suffer from a stroke and are above 60 develop some heart ailment during recovery.
The reason for this lies in the cause of the stroke, which is the clot. But it could also come from the altered nerve condition during the stroke.
Common heart problems associated with a stroke include cardiac arrest, heart failure, and ventricular tachycardia.
Every stroke patient remains under medical watch for cardiac arrest and heart failure for three to four days post the episode.
If the patient experiences an issue during this time, CPR and advanced life support skills can save their life. The heart bears the maximum load as the body takes time to recover. It must supply blood to every part of the body for recovery.
What is the difference between regular CPR and hands-only CPR?
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) maintains blood flow in the body. A CPR certificate might allow you to learn either of the processes. However, the medical fraternity has two different techniques for delivering CPR, as mentioned below.
- Regular CPR: This method uses the CAB formula to revive a patient. To deliver CPR, you use your hands for the compressions. The mouth provides breaths that allow the patient to breathe. Through this process, you can help a patient suffering from cardiac arrest.
- Hand-Only CPR: As the name suggests, hand-only CPR does not include breath delivery. Many rescue workers hesitate to give breaths to unknown people. This hesitation comes from the fear of getting germs and illnesses from the patient. But you can still save a life as a bystander by delivering chest compressions. The first thing is calling the ERT. By giving compression, you ensure the person’s body receives blood supply. It prevents brain death and enhances the chances of survival.
Conclusion
Experiencing a stroke is one of the most terrifying things. Multiple reasons could cause this ailment. However, with more awareness, it is easy to identify the signs.
CPR comes in handy for people who experience heart problems post-stroke. If someone in your family has blood pressure and hypertension, they fall under the watchlist for this problem.
The best way to support them is by taking an online CPR Certification. The American HealthCare Academy brings you easy-to-learn CPR courses.
Their course material follows the AHA and OSHA guidelines. Log onto the AHCA website and look at the course in detail.
Related CTN News:
CDC Still Investigating Potential Stroke Risks From Pfizer’s Bivalent COVID shot
Cough Syrup Deaths Prompt WHO To Call For ‘Immediate Action’
COVID Death Toll Rises During Lunar New Year In China
