A brain suffering from stroke ages three and a half years each hour without treatment, compared to a normal rate of brain aging.

“After a stroke, a person can suffer irreversible brain damage,” says Christopher Simon, MD, a neurologist with Adventist Hinsdale Hospital. “But the sooner they come into the emergency department, the more damage we can potentially prevent.”

Anatomy of a stroke
A stroke occurs when a part of the brain doesn’t receive enough blood, thus depriving the brain of oxygen. Almost 85 percent of stroke patients suffer from ischemic stroke, which occurs when too much plaque develops on the vessel wall and blocks blood flow, or a blood clot travels through an artery to block blood flow. Less commonly, a hemorrhagic stroke occurs when the blood vessel ruptures, causing blood to leak into the brain.

Signs you may be having any type of stroke include:

• Facial droop
• Arm or leg weakness, especially on one side of the body
• Headache
• Difficulty swallowing
• Slurred speech, trouble speaking or understanding
• Blurred vision
• Loss of balance and coordination

In some cases, a transient ischemic attack (TIA), or “mini-stroke,” occurs prior to a stroke. TIA produces similar stroke symptoms but without causing permanent damage and usually only lasts several minutes to a few hours. However, Dr. Simon stresses that even these “mini-strokes” are a big reason to visit the ER. “About 10 percent of patients who have TIAs have a stroke within three months; half of that group will have theirs within two days,” he says. “Because it’s a warning of what’s to come, we can take steps to prevent an impending stroke.”

How the ER can help
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in America and the No. 1 cause of long-term disability. The most common complications after stroke are loss of motor skills and language function, but can also include difficulty swallowing, memory loss and pain. “Time lost is brain lost,” Dr. Simon says. “We want to prevent as much brain damage as possible.”

For patients who come into the ER within three hours of having a stroke, physicians may be able to administer the “clot-busting drug,” called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). In a more select group of patients, physicians can administer the drug up to four and a half hours later. If patients arrive under six hours, physicians may be able to perform an angiogram, during which a catheter is fed up through an artery in the groin to administer tPA directly into the blood clot or attempt to remove the clot mechanically.

Preventing a stroke
Annual physicals with a primary care physician can help catch conditions that may lead to stroke – such as hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes – and manage them properly if they do arise. “If you have neurological symptoms, discuss seeking a neurological consultation with your primary care doctor,” Dr. Simon says.

The highest quality of care
As a certified primary stroke center, Adventist Hinsdale Hospital offers the care and interventions that stroke patients need most. “Our mission is to provide a higher standard of stroke care in the community, further the development of care and improve treatment in the national stroke community by participating in clinical trials and registries,” says Dr. Simon. “Being a certified stroke center ensures our patients receive the highest level of care.”

For more information, or to find a physician call us at 866-553-7968.