Of the nearly 800,000 strokes suffered by Americans each year, roughly 87 percent of them are ischaemic strokes. An ischaemic stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked, and the patient must undergo a life-saving thrombectomy procedure. It is during a thrombectomy when an arterial clot is surgically removed to restore blood flow to the brain.
Strokes are typically thought to predominantly affect the elderly in our communities. In 2022 the American Heart Association reported a decline in strokes among those aged 75 or older.
At the same time, people aged 49 or older were seeing an increase in stroke events, currently the leading cause of long-term disability.
The Black community, in particular, has seen the highest incidence of stroke in the United States. Black American men are 70 percent more likely to not survive a stroke, while Black women are twice as likely to suffer strokes compared to their white peers.
In any case, the steps to post-stroke recovery will be different for each patient, depending on the type and severity of the stroke. A mild ischaemic stroke, for example, leaves enough room for speech recovery to make a significant impact.
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About one-third of stroke survivors require some form of speech and language therapy. The resulting aphasia that occurs right after a stroke means the patient has difficulty reading, writing, and understanding others.
Most mild stroke patients see positive results from therapy and regular practice sessions within six months. While there is no cure for aphasia, there is every reason to stay an active and engaged member of the community, with the right support.
The best and most caring approach during the first few weeks and months is to speak to the patient slowly and in shorter sentences using simpler words. It’s important to remember that stroke patients are not less intelligent, but take longer to process and regain the meaning of the world around them.
Because a patient’s ability to communicate verbally may be affected, the tongue and lips must be