HJAR Nov/Dec 2022

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  NOV / DEC 2022 47 Ali Krisht, MD Director CHI St. Vincent Arkansas Neuroscience Institute THINK of a stroke as a brain attack. Some- one who has a stroke either has a clot or a bleeding blood vessel in the brain, and the brain doesn’t get enough oxygen. Without oxygen, brain cells start to die within min- utes. And once they are dead, they cannot be replaced. TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR A STROKE For a stroke caused by a blood clot, a drug called tPA is used. That stands for tis- sue plasminogen activator. It dissolves the blood clots that cause stroke. This drug dramatically reduces the amount of dam- age caused by stroke when not treated or when treatment is delayed. The sooner these drugs are given, the less damage to the brain and the body and less disability to the patient. For bleeding blood vessels that cause stroke, treatment is surgery. Tiny clamps are used to stop blood flow and to keep the aneurysm from bursting. In a few cases, a bypass surgery on a blood vessel in the brain can be performed to direct blood to a region of the brain. It’s the same type of surgery that is used in heart bypass surgery — except on the brain. SIGNS OF A STROKE Stroke symptoms often occur suddenly and include numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body. Confusion and trouble speaking or understanding speech are also signs. A person might have trouble seeing in one or both eyes. They might have trouble walking, become dizzy, or lose their balance. And, some patients say they have a severe head- ache that hits like a clap of thunder — the worst headache they have had in their life. If you suspect you or someone you love is experiencing stroke-like symptoms, call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room im- mediately. ACT F.A.S.T. IF YOU SUSPECT A STROKE When someone has a stroke, minutes matter. That’s why spotting stroke symptoms are critical! Symptoms include: • Face — does one side of the face droop? • Arms — does one arm drift downward when being raised? • Speech — does the speech sound slurred or strange? • Time — if you observe any of these, call 911! KEEPING YOUR BRAIN HEALTHY The brain is a muscle just like all the other muscles in your body. That is why it is important to practice it every day to make sure it continues to grow. Good health for your brain includes good blood flow and proper oxygen levels, which can be pro- vided by regular exercise. Another way to ensure the health of the brain is by eating healthy. By eating healthy, you are less likely to have clogged arteries that cause strokes — keeping a good environment for the brain. Keeping your brain active also helps it to continue to grow. This is especially impor- tant as you age. Activities such as learning something new, staying social, and keeping busy with tasks that cause cognitive think- ing to occur help keep the brain alert and healthy. The last very important thing to remem- ber for maintaining a healthy brain is not participating in recreational or illegal drug usage. Every time drugs are taken, they have a direct effect of damaging areas of the brain and brain cells. Plus, the brain pres- sure is raised to malignant levels where the arteries going to the brain can become in- jured and cause a mini stroke and bleeding in the brain. n