Stroke

A stroke is a severe brain injury requiring immediate hospital treatment and specialized rehabilitation. Board-certified neurologist  Paul Gill, MD, at Gill Neuroscience in Houston, Texas, specializes in stroke care. He has exceptional skills and experience that ensure patients have the best chance of making a good recovery from strokes. Call Gill Neuroscience today to learn more about stroke diagnosis and treatment, or request an appointment via the online booking form.

What is a stroke?

A stroke (previously known as a cerebrovascular accident or CVA) is a rapidly evolving loss of brain function due to blood supply disruption in the brain. This could be caused by ischemia (lack of blood flow), a blockage (thrombosis or arterial embolism), or a hemorrhage (blood leakage).

The affected part of your brain can’t function without the oxygen blood supplies. This can cause an inability to move an arm and/or leg on one side of your body and difficulty understanding and speaking.

What causes a stroke?

Risk factors for a stroke include:

• Older age
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Cigarette smoking
• Atrial fibrillation (a form of heart arrhythmia)
• Previous stroke
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Having had a transient ischemic attack (TIA or mini-stroke) can also increase your risk. TIAs occur when something disrupts blood flow to the brain but doesn’t cause permanent damage.

A stroke is a medical emergency. It can cause permanent brain damage, life-changing complications, and death. Strokes are a leading cause of disability in American and European adults and the second most common cause of death worldwide.

What are typical stroke symptoms?

Typical stroke symptoms include:

• Face, arm, and/or leg muscle weakness (usually on one side)
• Numbness or tingling on one side
• Difficulty speaking
• Failing to understand what others say
• Sight loss on one side of the visual field
• Hearing problems
• Sleepiness
• Personality, mood, and emotional changes
• Confusion and loss of memory
• Difficulty swallowing
• Changes in your sense of taste
• Difficulty reading or writing
• Loss of balance and coordination
• Difficulty walking
• Dizziness or vertigo (feeling like the room is spinning around you)
• Unconsciousness or coma
• Loss of bladder or bowel control

Stroke symptoms usually develop quickly and without warning but may occur intermittently for a day or two.

How is a stroke treated?

A stroke is an emergency, so you should call 911 or seek immediate medical care at the first signs. Immediate treatment saves lives and reduces disability.

Dr. Gill advises that getting the patient to a hospital immediately is vital to see if the stroke results from bleeding or a blood clot. Doctors can then start appropriate treatment within three hours of the stroke beginning.

Treatment depends on a stroke’s cause and severity, but most patients require a hospital stay. Post-stroke rehabilitation is also vital for optimal recovery.

Call Gill Neuroscience for more information on strokes, or book an appointment online today.