What is a stroke?

A stroke is an interruption of the blood supply to any part of the brain. If blood flow is blocked for longer than a few seconds, the brain does not get enough oxygen leading to brain cells death.

There are two kinds of strokes

• Ischemic Stroke: Ischemic stroke results from an artery being clogged, or by the gradual buildup pf plaque and other fatty deposits.
• Hemorrhagic Stroke: Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel is weakened and ruptures, bleeding into the brain.
  

TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack): Often called a “mini-stroke” and is caused by a temporary blockage in the blood vessel. Symptoms are exactly that of a stroke, but resolve within 24 hours.

What are symptoms of a stroke?

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body. 
  
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, understanding language or thinking.
  
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, dimmed vision or double vision.
  
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, clumsiness. 
  
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
  

Use the FAST test for recognizing and responding to stroke symptoms

• F (Face) – Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
• A (Arms) – Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
• S (Speech) – Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?
• T (Time) – If you observe any of these signs, it’s time to call 9-1-1 or get to the nearest hospital.
  

What are risk factors for stroke?

Risk of stroke you have NO control over

• Age – your chance of having a stroke increases with age
  
• Sex – Men have more strokes than women
  
• Race – Blacks, Latinos and Asians are at higher risk for stroke than Caucasains
  
• Family History – A family history of heart disease or stroke can increase your risk
  
• Previous history of stroke / TIA – If you have already had a stroke or TIA, you are at greater risk of having another stroke.
  

Risks you DO have control over

• High Blood Pressure - High blood pressure can put stress on your blood vessels. This can lead to a stroke from blood clots or from bleeding.
  
• High Cholesterol – When fatty substance (plaque) builds up; blood cannot travel to your heart. Too much plaque forms and blocks blood flow to your vessels. This can cause heart disease, peripheral artery disease and strokes.
  
• Smoking– Smoking doubles your risk of stroke.
  
• Alcohol – Heavy drinking can increase your risk for a stroke.
  
• Atrial Fibrillation – An irregular heart beat causes your heart to beat too quickly and out of rhythm. Blood can pool in your heart and form clots.
  
• Carotid Artery Disease – When plaque builds up in the neck arteries, it increases the risk of stroke.
  

What are treatments for stroke?

The sooner you receive treatment, the less damage will occur. It is important to understand stroke warning signs and to get to the hospital as soon as possible. Time is an important factor in determining whether you are eligible for certain stroke treatments.

Intravenous tPA

• tPA is medication given in the veins (IV) to dissolve clot.
  
• If possible, IV-tPA should be given within 4.5 hours of the onset of symptoms.
  

Mechanical Thrombectomy for large clots

• Direct aspiration – Blocked brain arteries can be re-opened by applying direct suction using specialized catheters.
  
• Stent-retriever – Blocked brain arteries can also be re-opened by deploying a stent into the clot and physically extracting it.
  

Acute strokes are treated on an emergent basis. At Abbott Northwestern Hospital, a certified Comprehensive Stroke Center, a team of physicians, including ER physicians, neurologists, and neurointerventionalists, are available 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week to treat stroke patients. Often a patient is taken directly from the ambulance for a CT scan, then directly to the neurointerventional suite where treatment can be performed.