Stroke is the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States behind only heart disease and cancer. Every four seconds someone in the United Stated has a stroke and on average every three minutes someone dies of a stroke.
Stroke is a type of cardiovascular disease affecting the blood vessels to and within the brain. A stroke occurs when blood that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens the brain can't get the vital supplies it needs for survival and begins to die. Eighty percent of strokes result from clogging of blood vessels (ischemic stroke) and 20% are bleeding (hemorrhagic stroke).
Transient ischemic attacks, or TIAs, are symptoms of stroke that do not persist for greater than 24 hours. Most of these last for much less than 24 hours and may be quite brief, only 5-10 minutes. Research has shown that the shorter the spell, the more likely they are to be followed by a stroke within the next 30 days.
Symptoms of stroke and TIA include weakness or numbness on one side of the face or body, slurred speech or inability to produce language, acute blindness or other visual disturbance and dizziness or vertigo. Call 911.
When someone has symptoms of stroke or TIA, immediate measures must be taken to evaluate and treat in order to protect the brain. The neurologists at Neurology Indiana will rapidly perform a complete medical and neurological history and physical exam, obtain laboratory studies and a head CT scan will be completed to identify any bleeding in the brain. tPA, a "clot-busting" agent will be given if appropriate, and all of our doctors are trained in using this medication.
Further testing to identify the cause of the stroke/TIA typically includes MRI, echocardiogram, carotid Doppler ultrasound and additional laboratory studies as well as treatment with additional medications and physical, occupational and speech therapy.
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