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When to Call a Doctor?

   Call 9-1-1 or other emergency services immediately if

  Signs of a stroke develop suddenly. These may include:
  • Numbness, weakness, or inability to move the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.
  • Vision problems which occur in one or both eyes. Symptoms include dimness, blurring, double vision or loss of vision.
  • Confusion is experienced, such as trouble speaking or understanding language.
  • You experience trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
  • You experience a severe headache with no known cause.
  You have signs of a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Symptoms are similar to those of a stroke, except:
  • The loss of vision is usually described as a sensation that a shade is being pulled down over your eyes.
  • TIA symptoms typically disappear after 10 to 20 minutes but may last up to 24 hours. There is no way to tell whether symptoms are caused by a stroke or TIA; therefore, emergency medical care is needed for both conditions.
Call your doctor immediately if you have:
  • Had recent symptoms of a TIA or stroke, even if the symptoms have disappeared.
  • Had a TIA or stroke and are taking aspirin or other medications that prevent blood clotting and you notice any signs of bleeding.
  • Had a stroke and have a choking episode from food going down your windpipe.
  • Experience signs of a blood clot in a deep blood vessel, which include redness, warmth, and pain in a specific area of your arm or leg.
Call your doctor for an appointment if you:
  • Think you have had a TIA in the past and have not talked with your doctor about it.
  • Have a pressure sore after experiencing a stroke. Pressure sores usually develop along the elbows, heels, knees, buttocks, and tailbone and on the back along the spine, and are caused by staying in one position too long. The first sign of a pressure sore is a reddened area that does not go away with rubbing or massaging.
  • Have had a stroke and notice that your affected arm or leg is becoming increasingly stiff or you are not able to straighten it.
  • Have had a stroke and notice signs of a urinary tract infection. Signs may include fever, pain with urination, blood in urine and low back (flank) pain.

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What to Watch?

    Watchful waiting is not appropriate if you have signs of a stroke. Emergency medical care is needed to prevent or treat any complications that may be life-threatening. Prompt treatment may prevent extensive damage to the brain, decreasing permanent disabilities from the stroke.

If the stroke is caused by a blood clot, early care by a doctor in the emergency room or hospital is critical. If you seek help within three hours, you can sometimes receive a medication that dissolves clots such as tissue plasminogen activator, or t-PA, but this medication should be given within the first three hours after symptoms begin. Not everyone can safely receive this medication.

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Baptist HealthCare provides this information for general, educational and informational purposes. Always contact your personal physician for medical advice and information. Content contained in our online Stroke Care Center has been gathered from an online health library
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