CHICAGO (5/11/2012) - Approximately 100,800 times a day, blood flows normally and the body functions at 100 percent. Blood is pushed into the heart and lungs and then is sent to nourish the rest of the body. This complicated process all happens in a matter of seconds in the average person.
Sometimes, the body senses a problem with the blood flow. An artery has a tear in the lining and blood effuses outside the normal circuit. Arteries quickly widen to compensate for the lost blood, but this cannot reverse the damage to the artery. The body goes into panic to try to give the brain oxygenated blood. Vital brain cells start dying and the body starts to malfunction.
The body has suffered a stroke and it needs immediate attention before brain damage is permanent.
Many Americans would not recognize the beginning signs of a stroke, just like Army Sgt. Daniel J. DelaPeña, a UH-60 Black Hawk crew chief of Company B, 1st Battalion 106th Aviation Regiment at Chicago's Midway Airport.
While working on June 14, 2010, DelaPeña realized something was wrong as he kept trying to pick up a set of keys, but his fingers would not grasp and he kept dropping them. When he also tried to walk outside, he kept going left and bumping into things.
"It was like my GPS was off or something," DelaPeña said.
The symptoms continued through the night when a co-worker decided to research DelaPeña's ailments. The co-worker told DelaPeña he had the symptoms of a stroke, but DelaPeña was resistant to the idea and simply attributed his symptoms to lack of sleep, but DelaPeña's wife told him to go to the hospital.
"My wife came home and took me to the hospital," he said. "They did a CT scan on my brain, and that's when I found out I had a stroke. Before I knew it, I was in an ambulance to go to Lake Forest Hospital."
To avoid permanent brain damage, DelaPeña entered physical therapy to rehabilitate his body. He also changed his daily routine to contribute to stroke prevention by exercising and eating right.
"I live in Chicago, home of the deep dish pizza, and now instead of eating half of a pizza, I only have a slice," he said.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, treatable risk factors for stroke are hypertension, cigarette smoking, heart disease, warning signs or history of stroke, diabetes, cholesterol imbalance and physical inactivity or obesity. Treating any of these will reduce the risk of stroke.
DelaPeña not only needed help rehabilitating physically, but also mentally. He joined a stroke support group to learn about stroke prevention and help others coping with injuries from a stroke.
"He is the most resilient survivor. His family is extremely important to him and he is important to his family," said Army Capt. Oluwatoyin O. Hines, the 108th Battalion chaplain and Wounded Warrior Ministry chaplain for the Illinois Army National Guard. "I am certain this may not be the easiest time in their lives, but I am certain they are collectively supportive of one another."
Early detection of symptoms is the best way to avoid permanent damage, officials said.
According to the Mayo Clinic, if someone feels sudden trouble walking, speaking or understanding speech; paralysis or numbness on one side of the body or face; trouble seeing in one or both eyes; or sudden severe headache, he or she should seek medical attention immediately.
With the help of his support group and family, DelaPeña has fully recovered and still serves in the Illinois Army National Guard.
"He is a fighter; a true representation of a Soldier standing strong in spite of personal and medical obstacles," Hines said. "He is another promising reminder that Soldiers are capable of conquering the most difficult moments in our lives. He has proven it like many others: stay strong, we are strong with you."