Stroke:

Treatment for Ischemic Stroke

A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain stops. Brain cells in the area begin to die, either because they stop getting the oxygen and nutrients they need to function, or they are killed by the rupture of the vessel and sudden spill of blood.

Stroke Facts & Treatment

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, and a leading cause of disability. In recent years, the clot-busting drug tissue plasminogen activator, known as TPA, has shown promise in treating the effects of stroke but only if it's administered within three hours of the onset of symptoms. TPA dissolves the clot or clots that are keeping blood from flowing to the brain. Because damaged brain cells can linger in a compromised but potentially viable state for several hours, the sooner treatment begins the better the chances of surviving without disabilities.

Valley Baptist-Harlingen uses TPA when indicated to reverse strokes. The ability to carry out this procedure requires an advanced level of personnel and technical support. Doctors say the unfortunate fact about TPA is that so few people meet the criteria to actually receive it because they arrive too late to the emergency department.

Dr. Michael Mohun, Chief of Emergency Room Medicine at Valley Baptist-Harlingen says, “People need to educate themselves about the signs and symptoms of strokes and seek medical attention quickly. Not everyone is a candidate for TPA but it has the potential to reverse the devastating effects of a stroke.”

Stroke Symptoms & Risk Factors

Every 3.3 minutes, someone dies of a stroke.  But death and disability figures could be reduced if more people recognized the signs of stroke, and the importance of immediate medical attention.

Symptoms of stroke include sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body including the face, arm and leg; sudden confusion or trouble speaking; trouble walking, dizziness or loss of balance; trouble seeing out of one or both eyes; or sudden severe headaches with no known cause.

The longer blood flow is cut off to the brain, the greater the potential for permanent damage. “The difference between a stroke and a heart attack is that with heart attack, you get crushing chest pain, and you know there's a big problem ... with a stroke, it's more subtle,” says Dr. Mohun.

Risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, heart disease, smoking, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Controlling these risk factors can decrease the likelihood of stroke.

What is the prognosis?

The effects of a stroke range from mild to severe depending on the type of stroke, area of the brain affected, and the extent of the damage. Those who have survived a stroke may experience paralysis, pain, or numbness, as well as problems with thinking and speaking, and emotional changes. Many individuals will require physical therapy to regain strength and mobility, and occupational therapy to re-learn how to perform everyday activities. Speech therapy is appropriate for those who have trouble reading, understanding speech, or forming language.

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