May is National Stroke Awareness Month

By David Stidd, M.D., Neurosurgeon, AtlantiCare Neurosciences Institute

May is National Stroke Awareness Month. It gives us pause to think of those family members and other loved ones affected by stroke in the past. It offers the opportunity to help prevent stroke in the future. This year we are making an even more passionate plea to remind you and your loved ones to heed symptoms.

Excuses people give for not dialing 911 for stroke symptoms include: “I am just going to try to sleep it off,” “I don’t want to bother anyone or be a burden,” or “I’m too young to have a stroke.”

This has long been a concern my colleagues and I have worked hard to address.

Now there is an added excuse.

We know that some people are afraid to come to a hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is an issue nationwide.

Remember, time is brain! The sooner blood flow is restored to the brain, the less brain damage will occur.

As a neurovascular surgeon who has the privilege of caring for patients with our experienced team, I see how fortunate we are that AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center is a Comprehensive Stroke Center.

We use the most advanced technology to diagnose and treat patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week – always focusing on providing quality, compassionate care.

The majority of strokes are caused by a small blood clot blocking a blood vessel in the brain. This causes that part of the brain to be starved of oxygen and eventually die if the blood clot is not cleared. The longer the blood vessel is blocked, the worse the stroke will be. Thus, time is brain.

That’s why it’s important to call 911 as soon as possible if you or someone else is having symptoms of stroke. Getting to a hospital quickly can mean the difference between having minimal brain damage and having a massive stroke that leads to death.

What are the symptoms of stroke? BE FAST is a helpful acronym for identifying a person having a stroke.

These include losing balance, having a headache, or being dizzy. Change in vision in one or both eyes, drooping of one side of the face, weakness in one or both arms, and/or having difficulty finding words or having slurred speech. Time to treatment is critical, so please dial 911 immediately and share symptoms with dispatchers.

They’ll activate the emergency response you need so treatment can begin before you reach the hospital. Refrain from driving yourself or a loved one to the hospital.

In this era of COVID 19, we have seen some changes of stroke. The medical community is seeing strokes occurring in younger patients who have the COVID-19 infection.

AtlantiCare maintains its commitment to providing the highest quality of care to stroke patients. We have treated, and will continue to care for individuals with stroke throughout and well beyond the pandemic.

We are prepared to care for you or your loved ones with the most advanced technology for diagnosing and treating stroke – and to do so safely – as always. For your brain’s sake, dial 911 immediately if you or a loved one has symptoms.