Twenty two years ago, President George Bush signed a proclamation designating May as National Stroke Month. Since then, with the help of the American and National Stroke Associations, May has been a time for education and outreach to save lives and lessen the effects of Stroke.
In this vein, Dr. Dorothea Altschul participated in a public awareness video sponsored by the St. Joseph’s Health Care System.
In the video, Dr. Altschul describes the early symptoms of stroke such as:
- Sudden onset of weakness or loss of feeling on one side of the body
- Severe headache with no known cause
- Sudden confusion, difficulty Speaking or understanding
- Sudden trouble walking or seeing
Dr. Altschul stresses the importance of early treatment. If you or anyone you know experiences any of the warning signs of a stoke, get to a hospital right away.
There are many treatments that can be given and in the video Dr. Altschul describes two state-of-the-art treatment options in particular:
- Tissue Plasminogen Activator (TPA) which can reduce the damage done by a stroke but must be given within the first three hours of symptom onset.
- She also describes in detail a new minimally invasive procedure that allows surgeons to actually remove a stroke-causing blood clot in the brain.
Watch Dr. Dorothea Altschul in her video, Warning Signs and Breakthrough Treatments for Stroke.
Learn more about Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease.
You can also learn more about Stroke Awareness month at the National Stroke Association as well as the American Stroke Association.
