Weekends are a time many of us look forward to; a time to relax and spend with loved ones or catch up with hobbies. However, when it comes to your health, weekends could be the most dangerous time, even when it comes to surviving a stroke.
It’s already known that people who are admitted to the hospital on weekends are at a higher risk of passing away in general than those admitted during the week; it’s called the “weekend effect.” Until now, stroke had not been looked at in particular in this regard.
According to the American Heart Association, there is one person hit by a stroke every 45 seconds in the U.S. One in every five people will experience some kind of stroke – that’s 700,000 a year! Its common and often sneaky nature is why it’s the third top cause of fatalities in the U.S. and Canada.
There are two forms of this condition. An “ischemic stroke” occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted by a blood clot, causing damage. It accounts for 88% of all stroke events. A “hemorrhagic stroke” occurs when there is bleeding in the brain, often caused by a burst blood vessel in that area.
Canadian researchers decided to look into exactly how risky going into the hospital on the weekend could be. The research team examined the hospital records on admission of patients with ischemic stroke into acute care facilities across Canada between April 2003 and March 2004. The information came from a national database.
In all, 26,676 people were brought into 606 hospitals across the country and diagnosed with ischemic stroke. The researchers found that the mortality rate amongst these patients was higher on the weekend (8.5%), compared to the rate on weekdays (7.4%). It was also found that stroke patients treated by a general practitioner rather than a specialist and those who went into rural hospitals were at greater risk for mortality.
It important to note that just because there is a higher risk noted statistically during the weekend, it doesn’t mean you should put off going in if you show symptoms of any life- threatening disease or illness, or if you have an accident. This is especially true when it comes to a stroke – time is of the essence. The longer you go without seeking treatment, the more likely you are to suffer permanent damage, including paralysis, speech and vision problems, memory loss, personality changes, or death. For example, there’s a drug that could help you recover from a stroke, but only if you take it within three hours from the outset of the event.
The first thing to do to lower your changes of suffering a stroke in the first place is to evaluate your risk factors. If you’re getting up there in age, are male, or have a family or personal history of cardiovascular disease, you’re more likely to suffer one. Certain conditions can make you more prone to one of these attacks, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity. Moreover, you have to keep an eye on your lifestyle – quit smoking, eat a healthier diet that limits salt, cholesterol and saturated fat, moderate your consumption of alcohol, and ensure you get regular physical activity. Discuss your stroke risk factors and changes you can make to diminish them with your personal physician.
You also have to be able to recognize the signs of a stroke, in case it happens to you or someone close to you. Common symptoms are sudden and include numbness and/or weakness in your limbs or face (often only on one side of your body), confusion, vision problems, speech and/or walking difficulties, dizziness, headache, and balance/coordination problems. If you experience these signs, seek immediate emergency medical attention.
What can we do with these study results? Well, it’s obvious that the factors causing the weekend effect need to be investigated. Why are stroke victims admitted on the weekend at greater risk of dying from their condition? The researchers cited lack of resources, staff, and weekend healthcare worker expertise as possible culprits. The reasons for this phenomenon must be discovered and remedied.
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Tags: alternative health advice, memory, obesity
