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Definition
Stroke is a type of cardiovascular disease. It affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it starts to die.
Strokes can cause paralysis, affect language and vision, and cause other problems. Treatments are available to minimize the potentially devastating effects of stroke, but to receive them, one must recognize the warning signs and act quickly!
Ischemic Stroke: Clots that block an artery cause strokes. This is the most common type of stroke, accounting for 70-80 percent of all strokes.
Hemorrhagic Strokes: Ruptured blood vessels cause hemorrhagic or bleeding strokes. When part of the brain dies from lack of blood flow, the part of the body it controls is affected.
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Symptoms
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
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Non Invasive Testing
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Doppler/Duplex
During a Doppler evaluation, your doctor, nurse, or a trained technician will use sound waves to make images of your carotid arteries. During the test, a special sensor is gently pressed against your neck. An image then forms on a monitor the results of how much blockage there is.
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Invasive Testing
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Arteriogram
This test is used to plan surgery, if needed. During an arteriogram, a special dye is injected through a needle in your artery. An x-ray is taken that shows the location and degree of the blockage. You’ll be awake during the test. You may feel pressure from the needle and a spreading of warmth as the dye is released. In most cases, an arteriogram takes an hour or less.
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Treatments
- Open Surgery
- Carotid Endarterectomy
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