By Donna Shryer

Stroke represents our nation’s third-leading cause of death, after heart disease and cancer, and like numbers one and two, quick treatment swings the door wide open for successful medical intervention. This advice requires a partnership between patient and physician. From the patient’s perspective, it’s imperative that you can recognize a stroke’s early warning signs and immediately call 9-1-1.

According to UAB’s Comprehensive Stroke Center, common stroke symptoms include:

• sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• sudden confusion or difficulty speaking or understanding
• sudden problems with vision such as dimness or loss of vision in one or both eyes
• sudden dizziness or problems with balance or coordination
• sudden problems with movement or walking
• sudden, severe headaches with no other known cause

All symptoms may not occur simultaneously, and some stroke victims do not experience every symptom. If you experience any of these indicators—even if they quickly dissipate—the best course of action is to call 9-1-1 immediately.

According to UAB neurologist James H. Halsey, Jr., M.D., “A stroke happens quickly and there are only a couple of hours before irreversible damage occurs. For this reason, UAB Hospital developed a well-organized system for incoming stroke patients. Through radio contact with the ambulance, our emergency room team is ready before the patient even arrives.”

The emergency system begins with an immediate CT scan to determine which of the three types of stroke the patient is experiencing. The most common type of stroke is an ischemic stroke. In this type of stroke, a blood clot is blocking a blood vessel, keeping it from bringing oxygen and nutrients to the brain. The less common hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood clot causes a blood vessel to burst. A transient ischemic attack or TIA is a mini warning stroke. Symptoms of a TIA present themselves but then disappear within minutes or a day.

If the CT scan confirms an ischemic stroke, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), is generally administered. This drug helps dissolve the blood clot and reduce or eliminate permanent disabilities but, as Dr. Halsey emphasizes, “for optimal effectiveness, tPA must be administered within three hours of the stroke’s onset.”

A second option for ischemic stroke is a carotid angioplasty, which is a procedure used for heart disease that is being researched for stroke patients. However, he says, “An angioplasty takes longer to organize and administer than tPA, and with only a brief period before brain damage occurs, time may disqualify this choice.”

There currently is no accepted system to treat a hemorrhagic stroke, although Dr. Halsey sees one coming soon.

Setting aside a moment to familiarize yourself with stroke symptoms is, as Dr. Halsey stresses, time well spent. “We have a small window of opportunity to help stroke patients. But within this time we can—and do—make a difference.”

For more information on the stroke services available at UAB or to schedule an appointment, please call UAB HealthFinder at (205) 934-9999 or 1-800-UAB-8816.

For a free UAB brochure on stroke, including warning signs, prevention and treatment, call (205) 996-6000.

The UAB Comprehensive Stroke Center is an interdisciplinary program specializing in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of stroke and stroke-related disorders.

The Comprehensive Stroke Center integrates the latest in medical technology with a compassionate and caring team of experts ranging from neurologists to nurses to rehabilitation specialists. Other areas of this multifaceted approach include:

• vascular and critical care neurology
  
• diagnostic services
  
• outpatient services
  
• rehabilitation
  
• research
  
• patient education

For more information about the UAB Comprehensive Stroke Center, log on to our Web site at uabhealth.org/strokecenter.

When it comes to preventing as well as treating a stroke, time is of the essence. It’s important to know the symptoms and if you’re at risk. To help address these issues, the UAB Health System offers two Web-based information options.

Click uabhealth.org/strokequiz for a six-question multiple-choice quiz, including potentially lifesaving answers.

Click uabhealth.org/strokeanimation for an interactive animated presentation that illustrates how a stroke occurs, possible causes and effects, and potential damage.