DECATUR When stroke symptoms strike, time is of the essence.
In late January, U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, 52, underwent surgery to relieve swelling around his brain stemming from a stroke caused by a tear in his carotid artery.
There was much buzz about the busy, seemingly healthy senators sudden illness. Two physicians involved in the stroke program at Decatur Memorial Hospital, Drs. Oliver Dold, a neurosurgeon, and Howard Wiarda, an interventional radiologist, explained that stroke symptoms typically come on suddenly.
Its important to recognize the signs of stroke and get the person to a hospital as quickly as possible, Dold said. Stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted. Symptoms can include facial drooping, weakness, numbness or inability to move on one side of the body, speech troubles, difficulty seeing out of one or both eyes, unsteady gait and sudden onset of severe headache, dizziness or confusion.
Symptoms can vary, depending on the type of stroke and the part of the brain affected, but an important thing to remember, Dold and Wiarda said, is not to wait if stroke is suspected. Call 911, and get the person to a hospital as soon as possible.
Even if youre not sure, get help, Wiarda said.
In recent years, technologies and treatments have become available that enable doctors to intervene in some cases of stroke, saving brain tissue and reducing or preventing some of the potentially disabling effects.
But these treatments must be given in time. Once a person arrives at the hospital with stroke symptoms, medical professionals must work quickly to determine and administer the right treatments, when possible.
Treatments can range from clot-busting drugs to DMHs Merci Retrieval System, equipment which, via catheter, can physically remove a clot from a vessel.
Now the objective is, if you can restore circulation to that portion of the brain, then potentially you can reduce that risk of disability, Dold said.
Continued here:
Recognizing signs, timely treatment vital to minimizing stroke damage, doctors say