“Has anyone ever seen someone with these symptoms or experienced these symptoms themselves?…”
Suddenly, the mouth is crooked, the corner of the mouth droops, speech is unclear, unable to answer questions as if not understanding or unable to speak. On top of that, when trying to walk, the person staggers and falls, unable to walk due to weakness in the arms and legs, experiencing severe headache or dizziness, vision in one eye only, and blurred vision. Oh no!… Scary, must rush to see a doctor immediately.
Seeing these signs, it can be said that the symptoms of ischemic stroke have appeared. This is because when the walls of the blood vessels in the brain and the large arteries in the neck have fatty plaques, the blood vessels narrow, reducing blood flow to the brain. At a certain point, the disease will suddenly manifest symptoms. If we have never known these symptoms before and do not rush to see a doctor, the brain will be increasingly damaged every second. This is when stroke or paralysis will occur, or if severe and treatment is delayed, it may even lead to death.
Some are lucky to have only temporary abnormal symptoms, which is called a transient ischemic attack. However, not everyone is always lucky. If you or your relatives experience any of these symptoms, even if they disappear on their own, do not ignore them. You should see a doctor as soon as possible.
How will the doctor treat it?
First, the doctor will take the patient’s history or ask close relatives who witnessed the symptoms about what symptoms occurred and when they started. Then, a physical examination will be conducted, including measuring blood pressure, breathing, pulse, listening to the heartbeat, and testing consciousness by talking, testing arm and leg strength, skin sensation, and checking for numbness or sensory loss. If still uncertain, a brain CT scan or MRI will be ordered because these can clearly show the brain’s blood vessels and indicate the size and location of the damaged brain tissue.
Furthermore, if there is suspicion of narrowing in the large arteries of the neck, a carotid ultrasound with high-frequency sound waves will be performed. This test is easy, has no side effects, is highly accurate, and can also indicate the risk of ischemic heart disease or diabetes.
Additionally, a contrast injection and CT angiography may be done to examine the condition of the blood vessels supplying the brain. If narrowing exceeds 50 percent, treatment with balloon angioplasty may be considered. Finally, an electrocardiogram, chest X-ray, and various blood tests will be performed to find the cause and assess the patient’s condition. The doctor will then choose the safest and most appropriate treatment method.
Stroke treatment requires medication
At the beginning of treatment, the doctor aims to improve blood flow to the brain by administering clot-dissolving medication intravenously. This method is most effective if done within three hours, but no later than three and a half to four hours from symptom onset. The sooner the treatment, the higher the chance of recovery and the lower the risk of stroke or paralysis. The doctor will carefully examine the patient beforehand to check for underlying diseases and readiness for treatment, and will inform the relatives.
If the patient arrives too late but within six hours from symptom onset, the doctor will administer clot-dissolving medication intra-arterially through a catheter to deliver the drug directly to the clot. The doctor will inject contrast dye and perform X-rays to visualize the blood vessels first. If the stroke is caused by a clot from the heart blocking the vessels, after treatment, the doctor will prescribe anticoagulants to prevent recurrence.
After treatment, some patients recover completely, but others may have ongoing stroke or paralysis and require physical therapy to rehabilitate the brain and body to improve their quality of life. Relatives must also educate themselves and prepare to care for the patient when they return home for recovery.
For more information
Phyathai Call Center 1772
