Description A sudden malfunctio...
Description
A sudden malfunction of the brain caused by disease of the brain's blood supply. Hemorrhagic strokes involve rupturing of a blood vessel, with bleeding into the brain. In the more common thromboembolic strokes, the blood supply to a part of the brain suddenly stops, either from a blocked artery in the brain caused by hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) or by a blood clot that travels from another area like the heart, and lodges in a brain artery (an embolus). The symptoms experienced depend on the artery that ruptures, or is blocked. Survival and the best outcome depend on seeking medical care immediately.
Symptoms
Sudden weakness of an arm, leg, side of the face, or any part of the body. Numbness, decreased sensation, vision changes, slurred speech, inability to speak, inability to understand speech, difficulty reading or writing, swallowing difficulty, drooling, loss of memory, vertigo (spinning sensation), loss of balance or coordination, drowsiness, lethargy, or loss of consciousness, uncontrollable eye movements, double vision.
Tests
Common tests used for diagnosis and treatment
Workup:
A history and physical exam will be performed. Tests to identify the stroke and the cause of the stroke will be performed.
Tests:
Complete blood count (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), CT Scan, Electrocardiogram (EKG), Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Ultrasound, X-ray
Other Specific Tests: Head and Neck CTA, carotid ultrasound, echocardiogram, PT (Protime), PTT (Partial Thromboplastin Time)
Specialists:
Neurology, Pediatric Neurology
Workup:
A history and physical exam will be performed. Tests to identify the stroke and the cause of the stroke will be performed.
Tests:
Complete blood count (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), CT Scan, Electrocardiogram (EKG), Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Ultrasound, X-ray
Other Specific Tests: Head and Neck CTA, carotid ultrasound, echocardiogram, PT (Protime), PTT (Partial Thromboplastin Time)
Specialists:
Neurology, Pediatric Neurology
Treatment
A stroke is a medical emergency. Therapy depends on the size of the stroke, the medications the patient is taking, how long the symptoms have been present and other associated diseases. Treatment may include: blood pressure medication, anti-platelet medications (aspirin, clopidogrel/Plavix), anticoagulants (heparin, enoxaparin, warfarin), thrombolysis (tissue plasminogen activator/t-PA), intravascular thrombolysis, physical therapy, speech therapy, and/or occupational therapy.