Nearly 2,500 years ago the father of medicine, Hippocrates, recognized and described a stroke–the sudden onset of paralysis. Until recently, modern medicine had very little control over this particular ailment, but the world of stroke medicine is rapidly changing and new and more advanced therapies are being developed every day. Today, some people who suffer a stroke, can literally walk away from the attack with no or very few disabilities–if they are treated promptly. Doctors are beginning to offer stroke patients and their families the one thing that, until now, has been so difficult to give–HOPE.

The symptoms of a stroke include: sudden numbness or weakness(especially on one side of the body); sudden confusion or difficulty in speaking or understanding speech; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; difficulty in walking, dizziness or loss of balance; or severe sudden headache with no known cause.

Because stroke injures the brain, the person suffering an attack is not able to perceive of his/her own problems correctly. To a bystander, the stroke patient may seen unaware or confused. A stroke victim’s best chance for survival and recovery is if someone around him/her recognizes the stroke and acts quickly.

Bystanders should know the signs and act in time. If you believe someone is having a stroke–if they lose the ability to speak, or move an arm or leg on one side, or experience facial paralysis on one side–call 911 immediately. The most common kind of strokes can be treated with a drug called t-PA which dissolves artery-obstructing clots. However, the window of opportunity is only three hours and patients need to get to a hospital within 60 minutes of any attack.

There are two major kinds of stroke. The first, and most common, is called an ischemic stroke and is caused by a blood clot or something which plugs a blood vessel in the brain. Approximately 80 of all strokes are of this type. The second, known as a hemorrhagic stroke, is caused by a blood vessel in the brain that breaks and bleeds into the brain itself. These strokes account for about 20 percent of all stroke cases.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of serious, long-term disability in adults. Although stroke is a disease of the brain, it can affect the entire body. The effects of a stroke range from mild to severe and include paralysis, problems with thinking, difficulty with speaking, chronic pain, and emotional problems like depression.

The length of time to recover from a stroke depends, of course, on its severity. Fifty to 70 percent of stroke survivors regain functional independence, but 15 to 30 percent are permanently disabled. Four million Americans are currently living with the effects of a stroke, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimate that 700,000 Americans will suffer a stroke each year.

In addition to the lives that are drastically changed, stroke places a tremendous health burden on our society in terms of economic costs. The National Stroke Association estimates stroke costs the U.S. $43 billion a year.

The best treatment for stroke is prevention. There are several risk factors that increase your chance of suffering a stroke. High blood pressure, heart disease, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, and family history of strokes. If you smoke–quit! If you have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes or high cholesterol, getting them under control–and keeping them at safe levels–will greatly reduce your chances of having a stroke.

If you or someone you know has already suffered a stroke, it is important to understand that many therapy options and medications are available to provide for a faster and more thorough recovery. The best start is to gain as much knowledge as possible about the condition and the treatments. Do your own research to obtain the information you need to make intelligent stroke decisions. As has been said many times, "Knowledge is Power," and this is certainly true when you talk about strokes.

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that it can be very difficult to treat; patients may think they are feeling better and stop the treatment but this will only see the problems recurring. It is difficult to detect bipolar disorder symptoms because the nature of the illness means that patients spend as much time in a state of mania (up) as they do in depression.

It should be easy to notice when a person who is close to you goes through this cycle on a regular basis and the second you see evidence of it you should make an appointment to see the sufferer’s physician. They will be able to refer you to a psychiatrist if required.

away. However, if you suspect the patient is having morbid thoughts and contemplating suicide you should act immediately to prevent the worst from happening.

Depression can be spotted quite easily too but can be overlooked as just being a down day. A sad or anxious mood that lasts for an extended period of time is the most obvious sign of depression and the first thing you should look for. Other signs include a loss of interest in things that would have previously caused excitement, including hobbies or sex.

Manic episodes can be easy to spot and include an increase in energy and a euphoric mood. Obviously if a person has been depressed for any length of time and then suddenly shows these characteristics it is likely to be very evident and easily noticed. Other signs of mania can include an increased sex drive, a lack of concentration, spending sprees and many more.