Everyone knows that cancer and lung diseases pose the biggest threat on smokers’ health. Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of deaths among smoking individuals. Studies have shown though that it is also a risk factor for other types of cancer: cancer of the throat, cancer of the mouth, and cancer of the esophagus to name a few. On the other hand, lung diseases specifically pneumonia, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis have all been proven to be caused by smoking. They are known as chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) which can bring chronic illnesses and disability. The hard truth about these diseases is that as one contracts them and does not go for immediate treatment, they eventually worsen and may cause death.

Smokers are also prone to heart diseases, strokes and other blood vessel diseases. By smoking continuously, their chances of acquiring these fatal illnesses is up by 50% more compared to those who do not smoke at all. Smoking also affects the blood vessels that carry blood to the legs and arms which results to peripheral vascular diseases and blood vessels in the brain which is why strokes happen. For men who are chain smokers, they are likely to develop erectile dysfunction later on in their life.

A very important matter of concern for women smokers is that when they are pregnant, miscarriage can easily happen or lower birth-weight babies that can develop physical and mental abnormalities can be born due to their bad habit. If worse comes to worst, these babies could easily die. Women who also take birth control pills and smoke at the same time have higher risks of heart attacks and stroke.

If these facts don’t get you to quit smoking, then maybe results of studies made on years of life lost due to smoking will be reason enough to make you quit. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an adult male smoker loses an average of 13.2 years of life and that of an adult female smoker loses an average of 14.5 life years due to smoking! Just think of how much smoking can steal from you!

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Various programs are involved in the physical therapy. The objective of physiotherapy for the people who suffer from stroke is to provide strength and keep the patient’s limbs motile and prevent the recurrence of stroke. To prevent the muscles and limbs from becoming weak it must be noted that proper attention is given and exercise techniques are maintained. The patients and the care taker are trained in a proper way so that they perform the exercises correctly. Some other techniques that are taught to the care taker and the patient are keeping all things safe and secure, such as keeping the patients away from stoves and ovens, removing any obstacles from the patients’ path, ways to cook food, and helping them with balance. One should be extra cautious while leaving a patient who is affected by stroke alone.

Physiotherapy is provided for patients affected by strokes at hospitals or at rehabilitation centers. A lot of patients who are affected by stroke stay in hospitals for long tenure or set up a home like atmosphere.

Most exercises performed by physiotherapists for patients affected by stroke are similar to those taught for those suffer from disabilities. Some of the techniques used are percussion instruments, massages, suctioning, prescription of medicines and evaluation. For patients who have lung and respiratory problems, physiotherapists recommend exercises which involve coughing and taking deep breaths…

Persons who can manage to stand on their own learn other exercises which may at times or may not involve the use of walking aids. They try to get up from the bed, move from a chair to a wheel chair or trying walking without incident. Stroke patients are also taught exercises which include stretching, strengthening the muscle, endurance and deep breathing.

A lot of techniques are used by physiotherapists for stroke patients having speaking difficulties. Short- term speaking therapy has been successful in restoring speaking skills in patients affected by stroke. Speech therapist works on the language of the stroke patient for 3 hours every day for some weeks. The patient will be given ample time to try and speak as it is known that emotions interfere their speech patterns.

Physiotherapy which when administered for stroke patients comprises diagnosis, treatment, care, massage, discussion and exercise and they lead the patient through the path to recovery.

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Stroke can happen to anyone and can occur at any age. According to the Stroke Awareness Foundation, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. and almost 25% of strokes affect people under the age of 65.

An easy acronym to help determine if stroke is occurring is F.A.S.T. Face: is the person’s face drooping to one side? Arm: Is the person able to raise both arms, and maintain their balance? Speech: Can the person repeat a sentence without slurring words? If any of these symptoms are evident, Time is of the essence and you need to call 911 immediately. When the EMTs (emergency medical technicians) arrive, be sure to request that the patient be taken to a hospital that has a certified stroke center so that they can receive proper treatment. Oftentimes if the hospital is not equipped to treat stroke patients, the patient may be sent away without correct diagnosis and treatment, and will suffer much more extreme effects of the stroke.

Typically if the person who is suffering a stroke receives t-PA (tissue plasminogenic activators) within three hours, their risk of experiencing debilitating effects of the stroke, including paralysis on one side of their body, is greatly reduced. If treatment is administered after three hours, the drugs are much less effective.

There are also some initial signs of stroke that are not as obvious as the ones listed above. These are sometimes referred to as mini-strokes or warning strokes. The medical term is TIA or transient ischemic attack. Although these are less common, if do you experience one of these and get immediate treatment, you may ward off a major stroke. According to the American Heart Association, symptoms of TIA include: sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body; confusion or trouble speaking; trouble seeing in one or both eyes; dizziness or trouble walking; and sudden severe headache.

While these symptoms may sounds like the same as a stroke, the difference between TIAs and stroke, is that the TIA symptoms are short term, often lasting no more than 5 minutes, and do not cause brain injury. However, they are not to be ignored, as about 50% of patients that experience TIAs suffer a major stroke within one year.

Unfortunately, stroke can strike when no one is around to recognize the symptoms and call 911 immediately. The longer the stroke patient goes without out medical help, the greater the risk of long term injury and even death can occur. If someone you know and love does experience extensive injury from stroke or brain-attack, do not despair. Even though the recovery process can be very long and trying, the stroke survivor will recover and although their life style may be much different than what they previously had, there is life after stroke.

A study at the University of Maryland showed that stroke patients that used humor and a positive attitude during their recovery, looking for ways to find a positive outcome from their experience, had a greater success of recovery and suffered less from bouts of depression. Patients also fared much better if they had a strong support network of empathetic family members and loved ones to assist with transportation to doctor appointments, therapies, and other social outings.

A positive, persistent attitude will help the stroke survivor and family members get through the recovery period, and with love and support you will all come through the event much stronger and able to cope with whatever challenges life sends your way.

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