Posts tagged "stroke"

Serious medical situations can happen as quickly as the blink of an eye. This is entirely true when an individual experiences a stroke. Strokes happen two different ways -- through the interruption of the blood flow to a portion of the brain or the rupture of a blood vessel in the brain. The first type is called an ischemic stroke, while the second type is referred to as a hemorrhagic stroke. Regardless of what kind of stroke a West Virginian experiences, it often leaves him or her unable to work. As someone recovers from a stroke, it is often important to contact a West Virginia physical disability lawyer to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits.

Typically, people who are having a stroke will experience weakness or numbness on one side of their bodies. They may also experience problems with walking; their vision, speech and balance; act confused; or have difficulty understanding when others speak to them.

While February is American Heart Month, the month that may be better known for candy hearts, but the need for a national heart health awareness month is critical, say the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are many people in Charleston, across West Virginia and throughout the country who have been either temporarily or permanently disabled by heart disease. There are over 2 million people who have a heart attack or a stroke each year, leaving many people in rehabilitation and unable to work.

Back in September 2011, the federal government partnered with private groups to lead a new initiative aimed at preventing one million heart attacks. Instead of focusing on providing better care to the people who have already had a heart attack or stroke, the program is designed to target the people who are at risk for heart disease and prevent any serious cardiac episodes.

Strokes are among the most feared, yet least understood, medical conditions suffered by people in West Virginia today. Strokes happen when the blood supply to functional areas of the brain is reduced or cut off, which can lead to long-term impairment of motor function and permanent disability.

The majority of strokes are caused by fatty plaques that build up in arteries, limiting blood flow to the brain or stopping it completely. These strokes, known as ischemic strokes, occur in about 85 percent of all stroke victims.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and it is the leading cause of disability in American adults. The most common type of stroke is an ischemic stroke, which is caused by a blood clot in the brain. This form of stroke blocks or disrupts blood flow in the brain, which causes a portion of the brain to suffer from a lack of oxygen. When an area of the brain suffers from a lack of oxygen, that portion of the brain loses its ability to function and paralysis, blindness, and the inability to speak or understand language often result from a stroke.

Because the consequences of a stroke are so severe, recovery is often a very lengthy and difficult process and stroke victims are often eligible for Social Security Disability benefits. Recently, a French study found that Prozac, a drug commonly prescribed for depression, might be able to increase the speed of recovery from stroke.