Lake Regional Health System | Thrive | Spring 2018

I f you ever have symptoms that seem like a stroke, take them very seriously — even if they go away rather quickly. “You could be having a transient ischemic attack (TIA),” says Lake Regional Neurologist Philip Kurle, M.D. “Without treatment, these attacks have a high risk of progressing to a full stroke.” TIAs occur when circulation to the brain is briefly blocked by a clot. TIAs are known as warning strokes. Many people who have a TIA go on to have a major stroke — often within days. But if you get help for a TIA, doctors can recommend treatments to reduce that risk, such as making healthy lifestyle changes, taking medicines or having surgery. A TIA and a stroke have the same signs and symptoms — the only difference is how long they last. Call 911 right away if you suddenly have any of the following: • Severe headache with no known cause • Weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body • Confusion or trouble talking or understanding • Dizziness, loss of balance or trouble walking • Trouble seeing in one or both eyes Remember: Even if your symptoms go away, you still need to be evaluated by a doctor. The goal is to help you avoid a future stroke, which can cause lasting brain damage. Learn more at lakeregional.com/ stroke . Philip Kurle, M.D. F. A. S. A.S.T. AN EASY WAY TO REMEMBER THE SUDDEN SIGNS OF STROKE IF SOMEONE SHOWS ANY OF THESE SIGNS, CALL 911 RIGHT AWAY. Does one side of the face droop? Is it numb? Can they smile? Is the smile uneven? Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? Can they correctly repeat a simple sentence? Is it slurred or hard to understand? Call 911 immediately, even if the signs go away. Note the time when the first signs appeared. It will help with treatment options. F ACE A RM S PEECH T IME Source: American Stroke Association you should never ignore A warning sign lakeregional.com 5