New Stroke Detection Device May Help Improve Lives

The ability to quickly and accurately determine if a stroke has occurred is something that can go a long way toward saving a life. In the past, doctors have said that if a stroke can be treated within two hours of its onset, the prognosis for a future recovery is improved dramatically. Sometimes, treatment can be delayed simply because of the uncertainty of whether a stroke has actually taken place or not. A new portable device is attempting to relieve some of this problem.

 

A new device has proven to be about 92 percent accurate when it comes to determining if a stroke has occurred. This device is called the volumetric impedance phase shift spectroscopy, and it is shaped similar to a visor. Worn over the head, emergency responders can use this to quickly determine what the right course of action is before someone arrives at the hospital. The goal is to not just make a quick diagnosis, but to also improve upon treatment time. For every hour that passes after a stroke occurs, a successful outcome decreases by 20 percent. This is a new device and not being used on a widespread basis, but it hold promise for the future. Strokes are a severe medical condition and can lead to a life of disability–something that everyone would like to avoid.

 

A new stroke detection device has the possibility to determine a diagnosis more accurately and help treatment start sooner.

 

To put the success of this new device in perspective, standard checks were revealing the occurrence of a stroke with only 40 to 89 percent accuracy. Not only does this improve upon that number, but it is also a far more consistent approach to determining if emergency stroke treatment is going to be needed.

 

The creation of this device, or anything similar or better that might be created in the future, is certainly not a replacement for a human eye. Knowing the symptoms of a stroke and being able to respond in an appropriate fashion quickly is an important part of saving and improving the lives of our loved ones. This (amongst other reasons) is why having a trained caregiver working with your mom or dad is so important. A caregiver that knows how to spot and respond to an emergency situation does far more than just help your parent get through the day; they act as a lifeline when there would otherwise be no safety net in place.

 

In-home caregivers play such an important role in the health and safety of the people that we love. It can be very easy to dismiss the need for a professional caregiver and rely on a family caregiver instead, and sometimes this might even be the right choice. However, oftentimes the extra training and experience of a professional can make a world of difference. While focusing on the little things that are needed throughout the day, such as meal prep, transfers, bathing, and those types of things, it can be very easy to forget about the bigger things. When you use a fully trained caregiver, the odds of something like this happening are much lower, and your family stays safer as a result.

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