Stroke Treatment Guidelines Include Palliative Care

You may be famililar with the campaign for stroke awareness, "Think Stroke? Think FAST!", which is familiarizing the public on early symptoms of stroke. These symptoms can easily be remembered by the letters FAST. F is for facial numbness or weakness, especially on one side. A is for arm numbness or weakness, especially on one side. S is for slurred speech, or difficulty speaking or understanding. T is for time; it's time to call 911 because "Time is Brain." Because of this increased awareness, millions of people are catching the signs earlier and getting the prompt treatment that's needed to save their lives and preserve brain function.

Guidelines for the treatment of stroke have always focused on prompt and agressive treatment meant to stop further brain damage and reverse it's effects. Unfortunately, not everyone can access care early enough to begin prompt treatment and not every stroke can be recovered from. Irreparable brain damage can lead to coma or death. How should care be directed to those who can't recover from their brain injuries?

For the first time, palliative care treatment is included in the guidlines for treatment of stroke to address that question. Updated guidlelines from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association were published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association and include palliative care of a patient with a devastating brain injury.

Palliative Care for Stroke
A.D.A.M. Healthcare Center's Information About Stroke