Monaco Stroke Association

All patients have a different history, and all strokes are different.
Some people may have relatively minor effects and those may not last long. Others may be left with more serious problems, need short or long term therapy or will even stay with disabilities that make them dependent on other people.
Unfortunately, some strokes can be very serious and some may lead to coma or sudden death. That’s why it’s so important to be able to recognise the symptoms and get medical help as quickly as possible.
The quicker you receive treatment, the better your chances for a good recovery.

​Read more: https://www.stroke.org.uk/what-is-stroke/types-of-stroke

When the blood supply to part of the brain is blocked or reduced, an ischemic stroke occurs.
When a blood vessel in the brain leaks or bursts and causes bleeding in the brain, a hemorrhagic stroke occurs.
A stroke is a medical emergency. Getting medical help quickly!

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/stroke/symptoms-causes/syc-20350113

Effects may be:

• Difficulty with movement or paralysis 
• Sensory and physical impairments, or inability to localize or recognize body parts
• Problems with coordination and balance (ataxia)
• Chewing, swallowing, speech and language
• Eating and swallowing, bowel and bladder control  
• Memory and Cognitive issues (thinking, reasoning, judgment), inability to find objects, or locations
• Headache, Dizziness, Nausea and vomiting
• Visual problems, and spatial problems with depth perception or directions
• Emotional and behavioral changes, such as lack of concern about situations, impulsivity, inappropriateness, depression, or denial ("neglect")   
• Sexual ability
• Breathing and heart functions
• Body temperature control

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/stroke/effects-of-stroke

Among age, and we all get older, certain medical conditions can increase your risk of stroke. Having them checked and eventually adjusting your lifestyle can help you preventing a stroke:

• High blood pressure is the single biggest risk factor for stroke. Check your blood pressure regularily
• Atrial fibrillation can lead to a clot forming in your heart, causing a stroke. If you feel heart arrythmia, speak with your doctor.
• High cholesterol and Diabetes are further risk factors.

Lifestyle factors as smoking, alcohol, being overweight and eating unhealthy foods can damage your blood vessels, increase your blood pressure and make your blood more likely to clot.
Check also your family history, if a close relative (parent, grandparent, brother or sister) has had a stroke. Speak to your General Practitioner if you have close relatives with stroke or heart attack, as some kinds of high cholesterol can run in families.

Risk Factors that you can control account for 82% to 90% of all strokes:

• High blood pressure
• Obesity / Physical inactivity
• Poor diet / Diabetes / High Blood Cholestorol
• Smoking

Some risk factors are specific to one type of stroke: Blood clots can arise from coronary heart disease, atrial fibrillation, heart valve disease, and carotid artery disease. Bleeding can occur after taking blood thinners.

Further risk factors are based on lifestyle, genetic , and environment.

• Age is a risk factor, too. A stroke can occur at any age, but the risk is higher for babies under the age of 1 and for adults as they grow older.
• Anxiety, depression, and high stress levels, as well as working long hours and not having much contact with family, friends, or others outside the home, may raise your risk for stroke.
• Family history and genetic play a role as well. Your risk of having a stroke is higher if a parent or other family member has had a stroke, particularly at a younger age. Certain genes affect your stroke risk, including those that determine your blood type. People with blood type AB (which is not common) have a higher risk.
• Living or working in areas with air pollution can also contribute to stroke risk.
• Other medical conditions, such as sleep apnea, kidney disease, and migraine headaches, are also factors.
• Other unhealthy lifestyle habits, including drinking too much alcohol, getting too much sleep (more than 9 hours), and using illegal drugs such as cocaine, may raise stroke risk.
• Sex can play a role in risk for stroke. At younger ages, men are more likely than women to have a stroke. But women tend to live longer, so their lifetime risk of having a stroke is higher. Women who take birth control pills or use hormone replacement therapy are at higher risk. Women are also at higher risk during pregnancy and in the weeks after giving birth. High blood pressure during pregnancy — such as from preeclampsia — raises the risk of stroke later in life.
• Viral infections or conditions, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, can cause inflammation.

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/stroke/causes

Physical Therapy includes a variety of muscle maneuvers, activities and exercises designed to train the brain and the muscles to work together.  
It uses an approach that builds muscle strength and maintains healthy muscle tone. Nearly any 30-60 min 5-7 days/week physical therapy is effective to improve your mobility, walk at a faster pace, function more independently, and have a better balance, and is usually already initiated in the hospital, shortly after the stroke.
Your physical therapist should be specialized in treating disabilities related to motor and sensory impairments, and be able to help restore physical functioning by evaluating and treating problems with movement, balance, and coordination; and constraint-induced therapy, in which an unaffected limb is immobilized, causing the person to use the affected limb to regain movement and function, but also independence, and quality of life.
Picture: Courtesy to Steven Saltzman, the pictures shows him with his private coach.

Membership is open to citizens, residents, and regulars in Monaco. Regular membership fees are 100 Euro for active members. Health practitioners in Monaco, as well as Doctors are welcome as non-paying and non-voting associated members. 
Monaco AVC avocates for stroke patients, information, and rehabilitation. We are members in the World Stroke Association, and are supporting exchange beyond the borders of Monaco. Our team is working entirely as volunteers. Contact us to hear more about our this year's objectives, our roadmap, and look at our EVENTS page for further information on our meetings. 
Your donations for our cause are very welcome.