A stroke occurs when the supply of blood to the brain decreases and the brain stops receiving enough oxygen or nutrients, causing brain cells to die. Strokes need to be diagnosed as early as possible. Heredity, smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are the common risk factors that can lead to stroke.
Symptoms: Everyone should know the following stroke symptoms:
- Weakness or numbness of the face, arm, or leg on one side of the body.
- Loss of vision or blurred vision in one or both eyes.
- Inability to talk.
- Trouble with understanding.
- Sudden and unbearable headache with no apparent cause.
- Loss of balance or unstable walking.
Stroke Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (SSEQ):
SSEQ is a questionnaire to be used in the recovery period following stroke. It could assist physicians and researchers working in critical stroke care to monitor individual confidence of stroke survivors and develop self-management strategies in patients after discharge. It could be used as a reliable and accurate measure.
Three separate studies were conducted to develop the Stroke Self-Efficacy Questionnaire. A total of 112 stroke survivors took part in the studies and the final 13-item Stroke Self-Efficacy Questionnaire was drawn out. The main objective of this Stroke Self-Efficacy Questionnaire was to find out individual’s confidence in functional performance after stroke.
Following are the 13 items of the Stroke Self-Efficacy Questionnaire; you can yourself mark “Confident” or “Not confident at all” and see how confident you are now after the stroke.
- Get yourself comfortable in bed every night.
- Get yourself out of bed on your own even when you feel tired.
- Walk a few steps on your own on any surface inside your house.
- Walk around your house to do most things you want.
- Walk safely outside on your own on any surface.
- Use both your hands for eating your food.
- Dress and undress yourself even when you feel tired.
- Prepare a meal you would like for yourself.
- Persevere to make progress from your stroke after discharge from therapy.
- Do your own exercise program every day.
- Cope with the frustration of not being able to do some things because of your stroke.
- Continue to do most of the things you liked to do before your stroke.
- Keep getting faster at the tasks that have been slow since your stroke.
Stroke survivors can make the above self-analysis during their restoration period. It provides them strong belief, courage and confidence that they can do some physical activities that may have been difficult for them since their stroke.
Awareness Campaigns To Spread The Knowledge
Weekly programs and seminars at hospitals and research centers help in raising public awareness. Stroke awareness campaigns aim to inform the public about stroke symptoms and treatment. National Stroke Awareness Month is May and the recognized color for stroke awareness is red. Personalized products are the best choice to spread awareness for any cause or campaign. Use fashionable silicone wristbands with custom messages, as they are the perfect inexpensive promotional tool. They come in various styles, colors and widths. If you want to design a red personalized wristband with a catchy slogan, such as “I Am A Stroke Survivor”, “I Came, I Fought, I Won”, “Love Your Heart, Help Your Brain”, then slap bands will be the best choice. Wearing stroke awareness wristbands help remind people of the importance to prevent a stroke. A wristband with an inspiring message could help save someone’s life.
Article originally published at Source by Ryan Smith
You must be logged in to leave a reply.