Stroke is a Medical Emergency!
Published Tuesday, June 25, 2024
In Canada, according to Heart and Stroke Foundation there is roughly one stroke every five minutes. Stroke happens suddenly, and often without warning. This was the case for Claudette when she was at home a few months ago. “It was scary, I fell to the ground and could barely get up” she recalls. Claudette's left side of her body suddenly became weak. Strokes occur when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. The phrase "time is brain" emphasizes the urgency of accessing stroke care as quickly as possible. Claudette recalls “my daughter recognized what was happening and made sure I got to the hospital right away”.
Timely access to stroke care gives patients greater chances of receiving treatments such as clot-busting medications (thrombolytics) or endovascular thrombectomy (EVT).
Rapid intervention can restore blood flow, minimizing brain damage and improving recovery.
Claudette got to the hospital within minutes of her symptoms starting. “I imagine it was very fast, everything happened so quickly. I vaguely remember getting the injection of the clot busting medication and I remember waking up when the doctor was talking to my daughter after the procedure”.
Because of the swift action of family recognizing the signs of stroke, Claudette was transported to the hospital quickly where a Code Stroke began. The code stroke activated the stroke team to respond. She was fortunately able to receive the clot-busting medication, Tenecteplase (TNK) and EVT.
Claudette recovered well over the next few days and was able to return home. She says, “I have the signs of stroke on my fridge. I guess I'm really lucky I got there so quickly”.
Recognizing stroke symptoms quickly can make a difference in the likelihood of full recovery. FAST is a simple four-letter acronym used to help remember the most common signs of stroke. FAST stands for Face drooping, Arm weakness, Slurred speech and Time to call 911/local emergency number to get access to stroke care. Public awareness and efficient emergency response systems are key to ensuring timely stroke care.
Want to keep up to date on the latest stroke information, sign up for the Northwestern Ontario Regional Stroke Network quarterly e-newsletter
For more information, visit www.nwostroke.ca
Donations towards supporting stroke care and EVT initiatives can be directed to the STROKE FUND through Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation at www.healthsciencesfoundation.ca/donate-now
SUBMITTED BY THE NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO REGIONAL STROKE NETWORK