Four Ways to Avoid Suffering a Second Stroke
You might think you’re out of the woods when you were properly diagnosed and treated for a stroke, but it could be a mistake to believe that you won’t suffer another significant event. According to statistics compiled by the American Stroke Association, one in four stroke survivors will experience a second stroke. Fortunately, up to 80 percent of clot-related strokes – those associated with transient ischemic attack (TIA) – may be preventable with medication, lifestyle changes, and avoidance of potential risk factors.
Not all physicians are diligent in providing proper care and advice on preventative measures after a first stroke, which could make a second incident more likely to occur. A Florida stroke malpractice lawyer can explain your legal rights, but you should also consult with your doctor about key ways to avoid experiencing a second stroke.
Tips for Preventing a Second Stroke: Your physician should inform you of the best ways to avoid a second stroke after a first incident. These measures include:
- Quitting smoking, which also has innumerable benefits for other health issues
- Taking your medications regularly and as instructed
- Improving your diet, especially by increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables – which can reduce your risk of stroke by an estimated 21 percent
- Working closely with your health care provider and other professionals to monitor your condition on a regular basis
Health Implications of Suffering a Second Stroke: The most critical consequence of a subsequent stroke is that your chance of death within the two years afterwards more than doubles. Plus, while every case is different, you could experience additional complications after a second stroke, such as:
- Paralysis, either affecting one side of the body or an extremity
- Issues with balance and coordination, which can lead to an increased risk of falls
- Difficulties speaking or understanding speech
- Problems with vision and perception, leading to a fall risk
- Cognitive issues, especially with memory, processing information, & attention span
- Pain or numbness in the extremities
- Difficulty swallowing, which can potentially lead to choking
- Inability to control bowel and bladder functions
- Mood changes and sudden outbursts
- Depression
Your Legal Options if Medical Errors Were a Factor in a Second Stroke: Because your odds of experiencing another stroke are higher when you’ve had one, getting a proper diagnosis of the first event is critical. It’s possible to change your lifestyle to reduce the risk, but you won’t know to make positive adjustments if you are not aware that you have experienced a stroke event. Failure to diagnose or mistakes in diagnosing a stroke may be grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit, and you may be entitled to recover damages for your losses.
Consult with a Florida Stroke Malpractice Attorney Regarding Your Rights
At Freidin Brown, P.A., our team is skilled and knowledgeable in the complicated legal issues involved when a person suffers a second stroke due to health care provider negligence. We can explain your options after taking the opportunity to review your circumstances, so please contact our Miami medical malpractice lawyers to set up a free case evaluation at our office.
Resource:
Settlement Versus Trial in a Florida Medical Malpractice Case
