Having a stroke can be devastating and life-changing. It’s important to be able to notice signs and symptoms of a stroke because taking action quickly can help reduce the effects of a stroke, and it may save your life. The neurologists at Winchester Neurological Consultants in Winchester, VA, provide comprehensive neurological services, including diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of stroke.
What You Need To Know About a Stroke
A stroke is caused by a blockage of blood supply to part of the brain, or if a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Brain tissue becomes damaged or dies. There are several signs and symptoms of a stroke, which you need to pay attention to. You may be about to have a stroke if you:
- Feel dizzy or confused
- Feel like you are going to faint
- Feel numbness in your face, arm, or leg, typically only on one side
- Experience blurred vision or vision loss in one eye
- Have difficulty speaking or understanding what others are saying
- Experience a sudden, very painful headache
- Lose your balance or ability to walk
There are steps you can take to determine if someone else is having a stroke. You should ask them to:
- Smile, and see if one side of the face droops
- Raise both arms, to see if one arm can’t be lifted
- Repeat a phrase, to see if speech is slurred
If you see any of these signs of a stroke, contact emergency services immediately.
Your neurologist has several effective treatments for stroke, including:
- IV administration of medication to dissolve the clot
- An endovascular procedure to remove the clot so blood can flow freely
- Combination treatment, using both treatments listed above
- Catheterization to treat the cause of the bleeding
- Surgical therapy to treat an aneurysm
Want To Know More About a Stroke?
To find out more about stroke awareness, including the importance of rapid action, call the neurologists at Winchester Neurological Consultants in Winchester, VA. You can reach them by calling (540) 667-1828, so call today.