INFORMATION ABOUT STROKE

What is Stroke or “Brain Attack”?  

Stroke or brain attack, is caused by the sudden loss of blood flow to the brain or bleeding inside the head. Each can cause brain cells to stop functioning or die. When nerve cells of the brain die, the function of body parts they control is harmed or lost. Depending on the part of the brain affected, people can lose speech, feeling, muscle strength, vision, or memory. Some people recover completely; others are seriously disabled or die.  

 How Common is Stroke?  

Every year, about 700,000 people in the United States suffer a stroke. That's about one person every 45 seconds. And one person dies from stroke every 3 minutes, or nearly 170,000 a year. This means stroke is the nation's number three killer after heart disease and cancer. It is the major cause of adult disability. The cost of stroke in the US is between $30 and $40 billion per year. 

 What are the Symptoms?  

Stroke symptoms may not be as dramatic or painful as a heart attack, but the results can be just as life-threatening.  

 Five Common Signs of Stroke  

1. Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.

 2. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech.

 3. Sudden difficulty seeing in one or both eyes.

 4. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.

 5. Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

How is Stroke Diagnosed ?  

 * Neurological exam

 * Neuropsychological evaluation, to examine how well the brain is working when it performs certain functions, such as remembering, problem-solving, processing information. A neuropsychological evaluation is also used to document areas of cognitive weaknesses and strengths. A neuropsychologist can provide unique treatment recommendations as appropriate to the needs of the patient .

 * Brain imaging tests (CT/MRI imaging) to understand the type, location, and extent of the stroke

 * Tests that show blood flow and bleeding sites (carotid and transcranial ultrasound and angiography)

 * Blood tests for bleeding or clotting disorders

 * EKG (electrocardiogram) or an ultrasound examination (echocardiogram) of the heart to identify cardiac sources of blood clots that could travel to the brain.

If you or a family member has experienced a stroke, please contact our office for consultation (949) 481-8414