You can schedule an appointment with our neurology team by calling 617-207-6143 or by submitting a request through our secure online form. We're here to support you every step of the way.
Strokes are serious medical emergencies. Fast diagnosis and treatment increase the likelihood of a positive outcome. If you believe you or someone else is having a stroke, call 911 and request an ambulance, which can provide care on the way to the hospital. Once there, a doctor will perform an examination for stroke and recommend the appropriate stroke treatment, whether medication or surgery.
The best outcomes require getting treatment within four hours of showing symptoms, so don't hesitate or "wait and see" if you think you're having a stroke.
When you arrive at the hospital, your doctor will diagnose a potential stroke through a variety of tests. The initial diagnostic test for a stroke is a physical exam. Next, they may perform imaging tests to show blood flow in the brain. Possibilities include:
Besides diagnosing a stroke, these advanced imaging tools allow your care team to pinpoint the location of the stroke, determine what kind of stroke you're having, and identify the best stroke therapy.
There's no way to provide a definitive stroke diagnosis without a doctor, but if you suspect someone is having a stroke, the FAST test is a good way to quickly test for stroke:
The best treatment for stroke is personalized. Your healthcare provider will create a course of stroke treatments based on factors like your age and medical history, as well as severity, location, cause, and type of stroke.
Different types of strokes require different treatments.
Ischemic stroke treatments focus on clearing the blockage to restore blood flow. Hemorrhagic stroke treatments involve draining the blood to relieve pressure and repairing the damaged blood vessels to stop brain damage.
The most effective emergency treatment for ischemic strokes is thrombolysis, which can be performed with intravenous drugs called tissue plasminogen activators (TPA). These medicines travel through the bloodstream and break up the blood clot. They can reduce long-term complications of stroke but need to be administered within four and a half hours of the first stroke symptom, ideally within three hours.
In some cases, doctors may perform thrombolysis directly in the blood vessel using a catheter to deliver TPA directly to the clot. They can also use a mechanical approach, inserting a device on a catheter to physically remove the blood clot.
Emergency treatment for hemorrhagic strokes aims to restore normal blood pressure, counteract the effects of blood thinners you're taking, and relieve pressure in the brain. These measures help prevent further damage and repair blood vessels to stop the bleeding.
The primary medication for ischemic strokes is TPA, which comes in two varieties: alteplase (Activase) and tenecteplase (TNKase). Medications for hemorrhagic stroke lower blood pressure (antihypertensives), counteract blood thinners (hemostatic therapy), and prevent seizures (anticonvulsants).
There are many different surgical treatments for stroke depending on the type and location of the stroke. Possibilities include:
Some of these surgeries can also prevent strokes before they happen.
Depending on the severity of the stroke and how quickly you received treatment, you may eventually return to normal life, or you may need to make some significant adjustments. The size and location of the stroke will determine what areas of the brain are damaged, what complications you experience, and what rehabilitation looks like.
Strokes affect the opposite side of the body from the brain location. A stroke on the left side of the brain will affect the right side of the body and vice versa, possibly causing weakness or paralysis. Strokes on the left side of the brain may also affect your speech and language capabilities, while right-side strokes are more likely to affect your vision and personality.
All kinds of strokes can affect your memory and behavior.
Stroke therapy and rehabilitation are highly personalized. Your care team will create a rehabilitation plan based on the nature and severity of the stroke's effects. They'll try to account for your interests, lifestyle, family situation, and more as they put together rehabilitation plans. Depending on your needs, you may work with:
Mini strokes, also called transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), resolve on their own before they've done lasting damage, but they're often a precursor to full ischemic strokes. If you suffer a TIA, get medical attention immediately.
It depends on the type and severity of the stroke. Some people live long lives after a stroke, but on average, life expectancy decreases. Age is a factor. The older you are when you have your stroke, the lower your chance of long-term survival.
Recovery timelines vary widely, depending on the type and severity of the stroke, the patient's history and lifestyle, and other factors. Most of your progress occurs in the first six months after your stroke. Beyond that point, progress is possible but slower and more difficult to achieve.
Like so many questions about stroke, it depends. Some people make a full recovery, while others will live with permanent limitations after their stroke. Your lifestyle, health, rehabilitation program, and the type and severity of the stroke all affect your recovery.
Difficulties with speech and communication usually result from strokes on the left side of the brain, where the language centers are often located.
An electrocardiogram (EKG) won't show a stroke directly because it measures activity in the heart, not the brain. However, an EKG can provide information about heart problems that may have caused or affected your stroke.
You can schedule an appointment with our neurology team by calling 617-207-6143 or by submitting a request through our secure online form. We're here to support you every step of the way.
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