Friday, June 24, 2011
Stroke Symptoms: Know Them, Take Action
PEMBROKE – It’s a fact. Stroke is a medical emergency and the faster patients get to hospital, the better their chances of receiving treatments that could help reverse the effects of the stroke.
Throughout the month of June, also known as Stroke Awareness Month, representatives of the Pembroke Regional Hospital’s District Stroke Centre have been actively taking that message to the public making sure the signs and symptoms of stroke are well known.
Their message also focuses on the importance of getting to the Emergency Department on time.
“Results from the recently released 2008/2009 Ontario Stroke Audit indicate that only one third of patients with signs and symptoms of stroke arrive at the emergency department within the required time,” said Holly Woermke, coordinator of the District Stroke Centre at Pembroke Regional Hospital.
“Results from the recently released 2008/2009 Ontario Stroke Audit indicate that only one third of patients with signs and symptoms of stroke arrive at the emergency department within the required time,” said Holly Woermke, coordinator of the District Stroke Centre at Pembroke Regional Hospital.
That drug has the ability to nearly or completely reverse much of what may otherwise be long-term or permanent brain damage caused by a stroke.
Under the Acute Stroke Guidelines implemented by PRH in conjunction with The Ottawa Hospital and the County of Renfrew’s Emergency Services, anyone experiencing stroke symptoms should call 911 immediately at which time the County’s paramedics assess the patient’s condition.
Eligible stroke patients will be transported to Pembroke Regional Hospital. There, upon arrival, they are assessed by the Emergency Department physician and an internal medicine specialist in conjunction with a qualified neurologist via Telemedicine who advises treatment. A CT Scan is usually ordered and if the patient is eligible, tPA may be administered.
A stroke is a sudden loss of brain function. It is caused by the interruption of flow of blood to the brain or the rupture of blood vessels in the brain. The interruption of blood flow or the rupture of blood vessels causes brain cells in the affected area to die. The brain loses 1.9 million brain cells every minute it goes without oxygen.
The effects of a stroke depend on where the brain was injured, as well as how much damage occurred. A stroke can impact any number of areas including your ability to move, see, remember, speak, reason and read and write.
Time is brain…seconds count.
Recognize the warning signs of a stroke:
- Sudden weakness, numbness or tingling in the face, arm or leg
- Sudden temporary loss of speech or trouble understanding speech
- Sudden loss of vision, particularly in one eye, or double vision
- Sudden severe and unusual headache
- Sudden loss of balance, especially with any of the above signs.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Carolyn Levesque, Public Affairs and Communications Coordinator
(613) 732-3675, ext. 6165 / carolyn.levesque@pemreghos.org
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