Introduction
To suffer a stroke is a drastic event in life. Certain symptoms such as paralysis or speech disorders are very frightening. Some strokes are bad, others are mild.
First of all, the patients and their relatives want to get through the first phase and get rid of the severe symptoms. This process usually takes a long time. Some patients may go into rehab after a shorter period of time, while others may need treatment in the intensive care unit.
Often, patients and their relatives are concerned about whether the symptoms they have suffered will disappear completely. Another important question is: how does this stroke affect my life expectancy? More precisely: what is life expectancy immediately after a stroke and what is the long-term life expectancy if you have survived the stroke well?
So is life expectancy
Life expectancy after a stroke depends on: the course and severity of the stroke, the general condition of the patient and the patient’s age. A poor general condition with already many diseases and a high age are associated with a worse life expectancy than a good general condition without diseases and a young age. During the inpatient stay, patients are closely monitored to detect any possible deterioration of their condition as quickly as possible and to react accordingly.
If complications occur, such as another stroke, bleeding into the area of the brain affected by the stroke, a heart attack or difficulty swallowing drinks or food, this can have a negative impact on life expectancy in the early phase. In the long term, the patient’s previous illnesses play an important role. The causative disease for the stroke should be identified if possible and then treated without fail in order to prevent another stroke.
Diseases such as high blood pressure or heart disease, calcification of the blood vessels (atherosclerosis) and strokes that have occurred in the past, existing obesity or diabetes (diabetes) are important diseases related to stroke. However, other diseases that worsen the general condition also tend to have a negative effect on life expectancy. Smoking is also a factor that plays an important role in this context.
In summary, it can be said that proper treatment of existing diseases, especially of the cardiovascular system and blood sugar, are important factors when it comes to life expectancy after a stroke. In general, a stroke has a rather negative effect on life expectancy, but as described, this depends on various accompanying factors.
- Course and severity of the stroke,
- The general condition of the patient
- And the age of the patient.