Smiling elderly women talking to a friendly caregiver in the nursing house

Stroke can be terrifying to deal with; however, it can get even more complicated if your understanding of it is inaccurate. Misconceptions can add needless stress and worry and can make the recovery journey even more challenging.

To help you understand it better and to give you some peace of mind, Nest & Care, an experienced provider of home health care in Rockville, Maryland, clears up some of the most common myths about stroke:

  • Myth: Stroke can only affect older people.

    Fact: While it’s true that your risk of stroke goes up as you age, saying that it only affects older people is not true. Stroke doesn’t discriminate based on age – it can affect both young and old people. In fact, the American Stroke Association notes that there has been an increase of stroke cases in young people and a decrease among the older population.

  • Myth: Stroke is only hereditary.

    Fact: Having a family history can contribute to your risk of stroke, but it’s not the sole reason. There are numerous factors that can increase your risk, including age, high blood cholesterol levels, diabetes, high salt and fat diet, high blood pressure, smoking, heavy drinking, and lack of exercise. It’s best to monitor these factors closely to reduce your risk of stroke.

  • Myth: Stroke is rare.

    Fact: According to the Stroke Center, stroke is the 5th leading cause of mortality in the United States and the leading cause of long-term disability in adults. Approximately 795,000 people suffer a stroke each year – around 600,000 are first stroke attacks and 185,000 are recurrent attacks. Further statistics show that on average, someone in the U.S. has a stroke every 40 seconds.

  • Myth: Stroke occurs in the heart.

    Fact: Some people mistakenly think that stroke is synonymous with heart attacks. Stroke attacks the brain. A stroke happens when blood from a ruptured artery begins bleeding into the brain (hemorrhagic stroke) or when the arteries to your brain become blocked or narrowed causing reduced blood flow (ischemic stroke).

  • Myth: Laying down can help ease the symptoms of a stroke.

    Fact: As soon as you notice the symptoms of stroke (facial droop, arm weakness, and slurred speech), you need to act fast. Call 911 immediately. Laying down and waiting for the symptoms to go away is the last thing that you want to do. As a concerned provider of in-home care in Bethesda, Maryland, we highly suggest that you don’t wait around – time is of the essence.

Nest & Care is a dedicated in-home care in Montgomery County, MD. We provide service in Rockville, Bethesda, Silver Spring and its neighboring communities. If you’re looking for a dedicated and professional caregiver who can help a loved one for their daily needs, Nest & Care can help. We carefully match each client with the best caregiver and formulate an individualized plan that best suits the family’s needs and goals. Excellent service to our clients and families is of paramount importance to us. Call us today for your free in-home assessment by a Nest & Care Registered Nurse.