The Superman Of Stroke First Responders

The battle with stroke goes mobile with improved communication and CT Scanner Technology...

Article credit  WOUTER STOMP on Jun 6, 2012 Click here for original article

Specialized Stroke Ambulance Features CereTom Portable CT Scanner to Reduce Time to Treatment

NeuroLogica and MEYTEC from Germany have developed a specialized stroke ambulance, called VIMED STEMO, that carries a portable CT scanner and a point-of-care laboratory for nearly-instant diagnosis and initiation of treatment in stroke patients. It employs MEYTEC’s telemedicine solutions and NeuroLogica’s portable CT scanner, CereTom.

The VIMED STEMO integrates a fully-functioning pre-clinical stroke care suite, comparable to those found in specialized stroke hospitals. The onboard CereTom is a 8-slice CT scanner that allows for multimodal imaging with CT angiography and CT perfusion in combination with a rapid scan time. Imaging and other data can be transmitted over encrypted 3G, 4G and satellite connections to emergency rooms or trauma centers.

In addition to being well-equipped, the ambulance also carries the best medical team you could get delivered to your door when you might be suffering from a stroke, including a paramedic, a stroke physician and a neuroradiologist. All together, this enables hyper-acute stroke care, including thrombolytic treatment as soon as possible, well before arrival at a hospital. No word on how much this all costs per trip.

Of course, the question remains whether this hyperacute care translates in better patient outcomes, but the companies have already conducted a randomized trial that provides some clues. They randomized 100 patients to either the stroke ambulance or usual emergency care. Unsurprisingly, pre-hospital stroke treatment greatly reduced the median time from alarm to therapy decision (35 versus 76 min) with similar gains in times from alarm to end of CT, and alarm to end of laboratory analysis, and to intravenous thrombolysis for eligible ischaemic stroke patients.

There was no substantial difference in neurological outcome between the groups, however the current study was not powered to detect such a difference and follow-up was relatively short. It does show that pre-hospital stroke diagnosis and treatment is feasible and may reduce time-to-treatment to a level that was previously unreachable. The VIMED STEMO is currently embedded in the emergency service system of Berlin.

Flashback: The CereTom Mobile CT Scanner; On the Pitch CT Scanners;

Press release: NeuroLogica Corporation Announces Partnership with MEYTEC GmbH…

More info: Project STEMO…

Lancet Neurology: Diagnosis and treatment of patients with stroke in a mobile stroke unit versus in hospital: a randomised controlled trial…

Do You Get Excited When You Find A New Tool?

My relationship with StrokeLink has run hot and cold since we have first met. Over the past few years we have exchanged emails and discussions about why their first app was only available on Apple and geared more toward health care professionals rather than persons who have been affected by stroke. My hope is that this latest app offering by StrokeLink has been directed a little more toward the many, many stroke warriors who are faced with the long road to recovery after stroke. Survivors, family members, caregivers, friends and health care professionals. Why not give it a try and let me know what you think. I get excited every time I find a new tool that may offer help with the challenges of long term stroke recovery. I hope you get excited too and I would love it if you would share your finds with us by posting a comment (and/or a link) to this blog... Thanks! My Stroke Passport is now available on the App Store! View this email in your browser

My Stroke Passport: The Journey Starts here. Introducing our Newest App for Stroke Survivors & their Circle of Care My Stroke Passport is a mobile toolkit of comprehensive resources for stroke survivors and their caregivers throughout the care journey. Gain a better understanding of your care team, prevent a secondary stroke and learn coping strategies to living with the effects of stroke. This is the stroke survivors passport to recovery! My Stroke Passport contains: - 434 essential, high quality resources and links - 100% aphasia-friendly and audio-enabled Available for download now on the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch! Android Coming Soon. Website Facebook Twitter Download

Copyright © 2014 StrokeLink, All rights reserved.

Stroke Victim? Survivor, Triumphant or STROKE WARRIOR!!!

Gary center - Receiving recognition as a Provincial Library volunteer

Maybe I was a stroke victim and maybe I never was. There was a period of about six weeks post stroke when I couldn't walk. In fact, for part of that time I was bed-fast and in a coma. I never lost the will to recover and with the much appreciated help and support of friends, family and health care professionals I was able to stand and then walk short distances before I left rehab. Determined to walk I established a personal routine of walking while at the same time learning to work within the confines of severe fatigue, balance issues and Left side deficit. Now, almost 12 years post stroke I still struggle with fatigue, noticeable balance issues and Left side deficit but I maintain a regular routine of walking as part of my recovery. I have never considered myself a victim but rather a survivor or as some have termed it "Stroke Triumphant": "STROKE WARRIOR". Three keys to recovery are to maintain a positive attitude, set attainable goals and work at it every day. Also, a forth very important key is  - NEVER, EVER GIVE UP!!!

A Question Of Trust

The Question: As a stroke survivor, caregiver, family member or health care professional are you concerned about where to find trustworthy health and safety information?



Submitted resource:

When given the challenge of recovering from a stroke, it’s important not to become overwhelmed with the flurry of information, tips, and guides that follow. Survivors and caregivers must sort through these readings and find the most trustworthy sources, without a clear solution on where to go first. The American Recall Center aims to make that easier.

With a focus on making medical news easy to understand, The American Recall Center offers news and safety updates on important health topics. From dangerous prescription medications to steps to avoid a potential hip replacement, our site always has the patient’s best interest in mind.

By breaking down the FDA’s jargon-filled news and updates into straightforward terms and put them in plain-language, patients can go into a doctor’s visit with knowledge and confidence to know exactly what questions matter to ask.

Another helpful offering on the site is Patient Safety Alerts, a notification system that sends personalized updates on the medications that matter to you. Simply select the drug or medical device categories relevant to you, and when the FDA releases a safety update pertaining to that category we send an update to your email. Never worry about missing news that can affect your health and save time by signing up for Patient Safety Alerts.

http://www.recallcenter.com/

When Stroke Survivors Can't Communicate...

Mark Lttleman author of "the Teaching of Talking"

Communication is key in all of our lives. Just imagine what it would be like to lose the ability to speak. Personally I don't have to imagine it because when I had my stroke I came face to face with the reality of not being able to speak.  It was a major shock!

Thankfully, my loss of speech was only temporary and the ability to speak came back in only a short while. Slurred at first it improved with time. During my rehab I asked for and received speech therapy. People would tell me that I sounded great but I could feel that my old voice was gone and my new one was just not the same. As time has passed I have grown more accustomed to my new voice and have grown to accept it as my own, like my new signature is different since my stroke. Just two of many changes post stroke that have become my new normal.

Many stroke survivors are not as fortunate when they lose the ability to speak and communicate as they once did. They are left with varying degrees of speech and communication deficit. Unfortunately, insurance coverage and government funded rehab are routinely only short term while the deficits become a life long journey for the survivor and his or her family.

There is a man who has recognized the challenge of long term recovery in this area and has developed a viable solution to this problem for survivors, families and health care professionals world wide. His  name is Mark Lttleman MS., COC/SLP a forty year speech pathologist who lives and works in the United States.

I think Bob Miller does a great job of introducing Mark in his interview. Bob hosts a weekly podcast called "The Incredible Breakthrough Show" and had Mark on as one of his guests. As you will learn, Bob is an Incredible Breakthrough story in his own journey of recovery after stroke.

Listen in as Bob interviews Mark. 

Stroke Recovery and Tips to avoid another Stroke

image credit: Google Images

We are pleased to feature this guest post by Alanna Ritchie

One in four Americans who has a stroke will have a second stroke, which may be more severe, and often deadly, as they may affect parts of the brain that have already been injured by the original stroke. Of the nearly 800,000 strokes that occur every year, around 185,000 of them happen to people who have had a stroke before. Strokes occur when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, and part of the stroke recovery process requires taking whatever preemptive steps are possible to stop another stroke from happening.

Eight Tips to Prevent Strokes

Some stroke risk factors like age and medical history cannot be changed. Others risk factors are in your control, allowing you to take steps ahead of time to lessen the likelihood of recurrent strokes. These controllable risk factors include lifestyle changes. Unchecked, an unhealthy lifestyle can have physical consequences, such as high blood pressure (hypertension), high blood sugar (diabetes) and high blood fats (hyperlipidemia). Making lifestyle changes is a vital way you can protect against future strokes.

Change lifestyle habits to prevent strokes with these tips:

1. Stop using tobacco products and avoid areas where others are smoking.
2. Stay active for 30 minutes a day, even with low-impact exercise like housework, walking around the neighborhood or gardening.
3. Spend time planning meals to make sure you consume at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables a day.
4. Shy away from sugar and manage diabetes closely, if you've been diagnosed, as people with diabetes are four times more likely to have a stroke.
5. Strictly monitor alcohol use, as studies show that over two drinks a day may lead to increasing the risk of stroke much as 50 percent.
6. Snack on whole-grain crackers and fresh fruit instead of foods with high amounts of salt, fat or sugar.
7. Schedule a yearly doctor's appointment to check blood pressure, blood sugar, blood fats and weight.
8. Speak to your doctor if you've been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF) -- an irregular heartbeat -- to see about taking medications to reduce stroke risk.

Medication to Prevent Strokes

Doctors may prescribe medications to treat and prevent strokes, depending on the overall health and pre-existing conditions of patients. Taking medication can be a precaution that stops health problems from becoming exacerbated to the point of causing strokes.

Types of medication to help prevent stokes include:

• Antiplatelet agents, like aspirin
• Medication that lowers blood fats
• Medicine to control blood pressure, like calcium-channel blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors
• Medications to control blood sugar, for people who have diabetes
• Blood thinners like warfarin and Pradaxa

Risks Associated with Pradaxa

Be sure you are aware of possible side effects before taking a new medication. Trials, studies and reports of adverse events together have shown that Pradaxa is associated with increased risk of heart attack and may lead to uncontrollable bleeding events that can be fatal.

In 2010, Health Canada approved Pradaxa (dabigatran), which offered patients an alternative to high-maintenance blood thinners like warfarin. Boehringer Ingelheim spent millions advertising Pradaxa as a convenient alternative to other drugs, but reportedly minimized its dangers.

In just one year, 2011, the FDA received reports of 817 adverse events involving Pradaxa. The same year, QuarterWatch, a publication for the nonprofit Institute of Safe Medication Practice, compiled reports from additional sources, gathering a total of almost 4,000 adverse events. Of this data, 542 cases were fatal.

Alanna Ritchie writes about dangerous prescription drugs and medical devices for Drugwatch.com.

"Everything You Are Is In Your BRAIN"...

"Everything You Are Is In Your BRAIN"

Would you like to find out more as well as have a deeper understanding of how stroke can effect our brains?

Watch this very interesting video to learn more...

Our brains are amazing parts of our bodies. In fact, brains can also learn and adapt. If you or someone you know or love has been affected by stroke, you need to learn about HOW to teach the brain.

Lets start with a well written book: "The Brain That Changes Itself"  (now available on Kindle)

Follow with another of my favorite books on the topic of stroke "Stronger After Stroke"

And now lets get to work: "Stroke Nation" (Stroke Nation can help through it's growing library of videos available to you, no matter where you live. The video library is available on their You Tube channel) Stroke Nation Video Library

In conclusion of this post I also want to introduce you to "StrokeLink" What is StrokeLink?

It is an application (App) available only for Apple products at this time to help: "StrokeLink empowers stroke survivors throughout their care journey by providing knowledge and self-care tools to bridge the gaps in care delivery. It provides a comprehensive toolkit of health reference material and a powerful tool for rehabilitation designed to guide and actively engage patients as they recover and regain independence."

If you can, check out StrokeLink and take it for a spin. I would LOVE to know what you think by leaving a comment . Thanks!

If the content on this post is helpful to you in any way, I would also LOVE to know. Please leave a brief comment to let me know. Thanks!!!

You can also sign up (top Right of this page) to be notified by email whenever we post to our blog.

Smiles,


Gary
Stroke survivor since 2002

p.s. Please visit our Facebook pages: "PEIStroke Recovery" and "My Life After Stroke"