Identifying stroke symptoms vital to early intervention

“Time is brain,” goes a saying by stroke doctors.

A stroke – bleeding or blood clots in the brain — kills brain cells by cutting off oxygen. Treatment must begin within three hours to be effective.

Unfortunately, unlike a heart attack, a stroke often doesn’t hurt, says Dr. Mark Johnson, a neurologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

“It’s critical to be able to recognize the symptoms,” Dr. Johnson says.

Symptoms include numbness, dizziness, mental confusion, vision problems, trouble with coordination or severe headache, all of which come on suddenly.

If you suspect that someone is having a stroke, try this simple three-question test:

• Ask the person to smile.
• Ask the person to raise both arms.
• Ask the person to say a simple sentence, such as “My name is….”

If the individual is unable to do any of these, call 911 immediately.

Several factors can increase the risk of stroke, including: smoking, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and high cholesterol. Controlling those can decrease your risk of stroke.

Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/neurosciences to learn more about
UT Southwestern’s clinical services in neurosciences.

Media Contact: Aline McKenzie

May is American Stroke Month

###

To automatically receive news releases from UT Southwestern via e-mail, subscribe at www.utsouthwestern.edu/receivenews