Stroke Awareness is he best protection against having one!

Stroke awareness is the best protection against having one. Strokes occur when blood flow to an area of the brain is disrupted. The lack of oxygenated blood causes brain cells to die. The longer blood flow is interrupted the more brain damage is likely to occur.

A person should seek immediate medical attention if signs of a stroke are present. Here is an easy way to remember the signs:

F – Facial Drooping

A – Arm Weakness

S – Speech Difficulty

T – Time is of the essence - call 911

The good news is that many strokes can be prevented by a healthy lifestyle. Start with a diet that is low in sodium and heavy on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, low fat dairy, and lean meats. Follow that with moderate daily exercise, stress reducing activities, keep alcohol usage in check, and no smoking. Now you are on board the stroke prevention train.

Controlling other medical conditions can also help prevent a stroke. By far the highest risk factor for stroke is high blood pressure. Other conditions such as heart disease, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, and diabetes can also increase the risk. These are conditions that home health nurses routinely monitor. In fact, many home health agencies use telemonitoring systems to monitor their patients 24 hours a day. Telemonitoring enables clinicians to monitor specific functions like sleep patterns, oxygen levels, and blood pressure as often as needed.

High blood pressure contributes not only directly to having a stroke, but indirectly, as it also contributes to other conditions that can lead to a stroke such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.  A blood pressure of 120 systolic and 80 diastolic is considered ideal. Below that is low and above that is elevated. A blood pressure of 140 systolic and 90 diastolic and above is too high. 

Strokes can be treated effectively if medications are administered quickly. The key to stroke recovery is getting to the hospital right away. Calling 911 for a stroke means treatment can begin on the way to the hospital. EMS will take you to the nearest specialized stroke center to ensure a quick neurological diagnosis and proper treatment.

Once released from the hospital stroke survivors usually need rehabilitation to recover. Choosing home health for that rehabilitation offers the comfort and support of being home with family while receiving quality physical, occupational, and speech therapies.

Promote your agency’s stroke rehabilitation services to neurologists, clinicians, and treatment centers in your service area by providing patient information brochures. Visit TAGWebStore.com for home health stroke rehabilitation information and other condition specific print media.

Cholesterol Awareness

National Cholesterol Education Month is observed every September to raise awareness about cholesterol and its effect on cardiovascular disease and stroke. It’s a good time to supply your referral partners with patient brochures on these diseases.

Cholesterol is an essential substance produced in the liver and carried throughout the body by proteins. There are two types of cholesterol:  LDL, or bad cholesterol, and HDL, the good cholesterol. High levels of LDL become a concern because they can create fatty deposits in blood vessels which contributes to the development of atherosclerosis, significantly increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke.

HDL actually promotes artery health by reducing inflammation and blocking the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. There are indications that HDL may even have the ability to pull some of the cholesterol out of arterial walls and transport it back to the liver where it can be removed from the body.

Cholesterol can largely be regulated by diet and exercise. However, some people have an inherited propensity to high cholesterol called familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) that can’t effectively be controlled without medication. People with diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, hypothyroidism, or women who are pregnant tend to have higher levels of cholesterol and should be closely monitored.

A combined cholesterol level that is less that 200mg/dL is considered healthy.

Standard Cholesterol Guidelines:

LDL levels should be less than 100 mg/dL

  • 100-129 mg/dL is acceptable for those not at risk for heart disease
  • 130 -159 mg/dL is borderline high
  • 160-189 mg/dL is high
  • 190 mg/dL or higher is very high

HDL levels should be kept at 60 mg/dL or higher

  • 41 mg/dL -59 mg/dL is borderline low
  • 40 mg/dL or less is a major risk of heart disease

Get involved by:

  • Sharing cholesterol information throughout the month of September on your social media feeds.
  • Partnering with local healthy eateries to host lunch-n-learns for local non-profits that align with your mission. Provide information about cholesterol monitoring and demonstrate your expertise and value as a Home Health provider.
  • Providing your public health center with brochures about disease prevention.

Visit tabwebstore .com for all your Home Health and Hospice Marketing essentials.