ACUTE STROKE THERAPY
By DR. IVAN LOPEZ - MED SCHOOL CAFÉ FROM USA MEDICAL CENTER | August 15, 2018
MED SCHOOL CAFÉ FROM USA MEDICAL CENTER
JUNE 20,2018
DR. IVAN LOPEZ
ACUTE STROKE THERAPY
THERE IS GREATER THAN 800,000 STROKE PATIENTS EVERY YEAR WITH ONE OCCURING EVERY 40 SECONDS . IT IS THE 5TH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES.
SOME RISK FACTORS INCLUDE AFRICAN AMERICANS , DECREASE EDUCATION, LOWER SOCIOECONOMICS , AGE ( USUALLY IN OLDER POPULATION ) , GENDER ( MORE IN MALES) AND CHRONIC CONDITIONS SUCH AS OBESITY, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, SMOKING AND DIABETES. SOME OF THESE CONDITIONS ARE MODIFIABLE ( HYPERTENSION, DIABETES, HIGH CHOLESTEROL, SMOKING, CERTAIN TYPES OF HEART DISEASE AND SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE ). NON MODIFIABLE CONDITIONS ( AGE, GENDER, ETHNICITY, MEDICAL HISTORY, PRIOR EVENTS , CHILDHOOD CANCER SURVIVOR AND INFECTIONS .
STROKE PREVENTION INCLUDES DIET, MEDICATION AND LIFESTYLE CHANGES. REMEMBER STROKES HAPPEN SUDDENDLY AND NOT OVER A PERIOD OF DAYS OR WEEKS , THEREFORE IF SYMPTOMS OCCUR- LOSS OF BALANCE OR COORDINATION, DIZZINESS, EYES-BLURRY, DOUBLE OR LOSS OF VISION IN ONE EYE, FACIAL DROOP, UNEVEN SMILE, ARM NUMBNESS OR ARM WEAKNESSS, SLURRED SPEECH OR DIFFICULTY SPEAKING AND WHAT TIME DIS SYMPTOMS FIRST OCCUR .
TIA’S OR MINI SROKES IS A PRECUSSOR TO A MAJOR STROKE AND USUALLY LAST THAN AN HOUR.
TREATMENT FOR AN ACUTE STROKE INCLUDE TPA (CLOT BUSTING MEDICATION ) IF WITHIN 41/2 HOURS OF SYMPTOMS AND STENT RETREIVER . REMEMBER THESE SYMPTOMS USUALLY AFFECT ONE SIDE OF THE BODY.
IF SYMPTOMS OCCUR, CALL 911 BECAUSE THE EMT.S CAN NOTIFY HOSPITAL AND HAVE STROKE TEAM IN PLACE.
