Stroke and heart attack are overwhelmingly the leading cause of death in the United States. As a specialist in stroke management, I’m glad to report that over the past five years there have been great strides in treating stroke patients. There was a time in my career when there just wasn’t much we could do. Patients were placed in a nursing home with little intervention, issued a cane to help them walk or confined to a wheelchair, but that was about all
the help we could offer. Fortunately, significant treatment options are now available, but only if you can get to the emergency department in time. First, a primer on what a stroke is. Stroke is a type of cardiovascular disease. It affects the arteries leading to and in the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel is blocked by a clot (ischemic stroke), or when a blood vessel bursts (hemorrhagic stroke). The result is that part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so it starts to die.
When brain cells die speech, movement, memory and even emotions can be affected. Sometimes this kind of brain injury affects muscles so that they involuntarily contract, creating stiffness. Some stroke survivors have balance challenges, making it important to take measures to prevent a fall, which can result in serious injury. The end result is that life changes.
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Overlake Hospital www.overlakehospital.org Offers a full range of advanced medical services to the Puget Sound region.
From onset, the symptoms of a stroke can’t be ignored. The American Stroke Association has identified five specific signs:
Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.
If any one of those symptoms surface for more than 15 minutes, even if it is in the middle of the night, call 911 immediately. Check the time so you know when the first symptom appeared and take immediate action. In stroke care, every second counts.
STROKE MANAGEMENT In the case of stroke caused by a clot, victims should be seen within three hours of the onset of symptoms. A medication called Tissue Plasminogin Activator, or tPA, can be administered. It changes the characteristics of a blood clot, making it softer and causing it to dissolve. This allows the blood to flow more smoothly to the brain, hopefully minimizing injury. Not everyone is a good candidate for tPA; this determination is made when a patient is seen in the emergency department. I’ve personally been involved in many success stories. Not long ago, there was a physician giving a lecture who suddenly lost the ability to speak. He was rushed to Overlake’s Emergency
Department and tPA was administered. His recovery was dramatic and he is back at work. So never hesitate to call 911 if you think you or someone you love is experiencing a stroke. If tPA cannot be given, receiving immediate and comprehensive care is important. Once discharged from the inpatient area of the hospital, access to a good rehabilitation program is a critical part of recovery. Many patients must change, relearn or
redefine how they live. Rehabilitation doesn’t reverse the effects of a stroke. The goals are to build your strength, capability and confidence so you can continue your daily
activities.
WHAT YOU CAN DO There are many lifestyle changes that contribute to preventing a stroke such as exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet and not smoking. Many stroke-risk factors are hereditary, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation), high cholesterol and certain blood disorders. With good medical management, control of these stroke- risk factors can be achieved. Taking good care of stroke patients is a top priority at Overlake Hospital Medical Center. This spring, the hospital is pursuing special certification from the Joint Commission on Hospital Accreditation. If you need a physician who treats cardiovascular and neurological diseases such as stroke, Overlake has offices around the Eastside, including
Issaquah. Call the Overlake Physician Referral line at 425-688-5211.
