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HARLINGEN — No matter how bad it gets, it just keeps getting better.
If a stroke doesn’t kill you, it can leave you paralyzed, unable to speak clearly or walk with a steady gait.
With continuously evolving advances in stroke care, however, it doesn’t have to cause any of these tragedies.
May is National Stroke Awareness Month, and local health experts are reaching out to educate the public about the signs, symptoms and treatment of stroke.
Stroke is a type of cardiovascular disease which affects the arteries leading to the brain and the arteries within the brain, said Matt Lynch, communications manager at Valley Baptist Medical Center.
“A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts,” Lynch said. “When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, and that part of the brain starts to die.”
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If it doesn’t kill you, it can cause you lifetime disabilities. However, quick and effective treatment can result in patients walking out of a hospital with no disabilities at all.
It is therefore critical for everyone to know the warning signs of a stroke and to call 911 immediately if they or a loved one is experiencing stroke symptoms said Dr. Ameer Hassan, head of the neuroscience department at Valley Baptist.
“It’s important to recognize these signs that a stroke is happening, because you can save a life,” he said. “The point to remember is that ‘time equals brain.’ A delay of even five or 10 minutes can make a big difference in the patient’s outcome. Every minute in delay to treatment leads to 2 million neurons dying.”
Symptoms of a stroke include trouble with balance and coordination, blurred vision, and half of the face drooping.
While the symptoms of stroke have remained constant, stroke treatment has evolved at a quick pace.
The 9th Annual South Texas Comprehensive Stroke Care Symposium on South Padre Island took place April 25 and 26 and was the most impactful yet, Hassan said.
“It featured the latest advances and data in treating large core and distal occlusions, along with real-world discussions on team dynamics and triage,” Hassan said.
A distal occlusion is the blockage of a medium sized artery in the brain.
“Every session highlighted the progress we are making in stroke care,” Hassan said. “What I enjoyed most was witnessing professionals from various disciplines — emergency medical services, neurology, interventional neuro, neurosurgery and rehabilitation — collaborate to advance stroke care throughout all phases of treatment.”
Stroke care should never be delayed, said Dr. Luis Gaitan, medical director of the Stroke Program at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville.
“You should never delay stroke care, because if caught early, stroke is usually very treatable,” he said. “Unnecessary delays in treatment put positive outcomes in jeopardy.”