| Acute Stroke The
American Stroke Association says about 500,000 Americans per
year suffer strokes. About one third of them die, and another
200,000 are disabled to some extent.
The underlying cause of a stroke may develop over a long
period of time. These conditions may be dormant for many years
before triggering an event that sends the patient to the
emergency room. Strokes usually result from uncontrolled high
blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol and
excessive smoking and/or drinking alcohol. Strokes can be
ischemic (lack of oxygen damages brain tissue) or hemorrhagic
(where blood vessels in the brain burst). A “mini stroke,” or
transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a warning signal of impending
stroke. TIA develops when blood flow is reduced temporarily to
an area of the brain, often by a blood clot. Symptoms include
blurred vision, slurred speech, behavior changes, and weakness
or numbness to one side of the body. TIA symptoms usually last
only minutes when blood flow resumes. Symptoms of TIA should
always be treated as an emergency.
Often, symptoms of stroke may be very similar to other
conditions, which can lead to a misdiagnosis by a hasty
provider. As with any condition, if the patient’s history (risk
factors) and symptoms are such that a prudent doctor would
consider the possibility of a stroke, tests should be ordered to
rule out stroke. If the appropriate tests are not ordered, and
the stroke is not diagnosed, the impact on the patient can be
catastrophic.
The failure to quickly recognize symptoms of a TIA or stroke
may result in another, larger, stroke which causes permanent
damage. Successful outcome depends upon prompt recognition and
preventative steps. Stroke is the number 3 cause of death in the
United States.
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