Is It a Stroke? Check These Signs » F.A.S.T.
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Introduction

Stroke is:

• the leading cause of adult disability and the third leading cause of death.
• 700, 000 Americans suffer from strokes every year and one-third are severely impaired
• occurs every 45 seconds 150,000 American stroke victims die each year.
• a recurrent stroke occurs within one year in 15% and up to 42% will have a second stroke within five years.
• risk increases with age, is more common in adults over 65 years, but can occur at any age

Brain attack, or stroke occurs when there is an interruption of blood flow in the brain. This interruption is caused by a blood clot that occludes an artery or a blood vessel that breaks, injuring brain cells surrounding the area. More than 80% of strokes are ischemic, or a result of a clot. The clot may be either thrombotic or embolic. Thrombotic stroke occurs when a clot builds around blood-vessel deposits until the artery becomes blocked.

Many strokes can be prevented by reducing risks through lifestyle changes:

• blood pressure control
• weight loss
• low-fat diet lowering cholesterol
• exercise
• not smoking
• limit alcohol consumption
• reduce risk of heart disease
• control heart rate irregularities such as atrial fibrillation
• blood sugar control in diabetics through proper diet and exercise

Stroke Team

Brain attack is a term created to raise public awareness that stroke, is a heart attack of the brain and a medical emergency! Knowing the signs and symptoms of “brain attack” can dramatically affect an individual’s outcome! Time is brain and delay in seeking medical attention by calling 911 can result in permanent brain damage! The staff at Wallace-Kettering Neuroscience Institute (WKNI) recognizes stroke as an emergency and have made diagnosis and prompt treatment a priority at Kettering Hospital. We acknowledge patients suspected of stroke need immediate evaluation to decrease the incidence of disability and improve function. Treatment with a clot-buster drug is available which may reverse or decrease the extent of brain cell death and damage. However, treatment must be started within three hours of the first symptom of stroke.

We are committed to providing immediate evaluation of patients who come to the emergency department with stroke symptoms. This process is facilitated through timely triage, accurate diagnosis using advanced technology, and the neurological expertise of our stroke team. The WKNI stroke team was assembled to meet the urgent demands of a stroke victim and is available 24/7. Leading the team are neurologists experienced in caring for stroke victims who work in a collaborative effort with the emergency department, radiologists and imaging techs, nurses, laboratory, and pharmacists to offer treatment that may restore function and limit brain damage.

The KMC and KMC-Sycamore were distinguished by The Joint Commission as Primary Stroke Centers in March 2007 and are two of only a few hundred Stroke Centers nationally.

The Joint Commission, in collaboration with the American Stroke Association, requires hospitals meet rigorous criteria to achieve the designation of a Primary Stroke Center. These criteria are to ensure stroke patients receive specialized high quality care using updated guidelines to impact the return of function and to improve outcomes.

Knowing the signs and symptoms of “brain attack”, or stroke and calling 911 immediately can reduce your chances of extensive brain damage and loss of function, which may require long-term rehabilitation. WKNI will continue our concerted efforts to provide the most advanced technology and treatment options available for you and your loved ones.


The “before” image above demonstrates a blocked artery as a result of a blood clot. Lack of blood flow, ischemia, from a clot causes permanent brain injury to nerve cells (neurons), due to loss of oxygen and glucose. The penumbra, or area surrounding this severe ischemia, is less severely affected and contains cells, which are still viable for several hours. Treatment with t-PA (Activase) was approved in 1996 by the FDA for ischemic stroke to improve neurological recovery and function. The red arrow is the target area where treatment with t-PA has the potential to dissolve the clot and re-establish blood flow to restore function and limit disability. The green arrow in the “after” image demonstrates the clot has been dissolved and blood flow is returned.

Knowing the signs and symptoms of stroke is a responsibility shared by members of the community to come to the rescue of friends, family and other individuals. The signs and symptoms vary dependent upon the area of the brain being affected. Stroke usually occurs as a sudden change in condition and is an emergency! If you experience or witness the signs and symptoms call 911 immediately!

Common signs and symptoms are:

• Weakness, numbness or paralysis of face, arm or leg—especially on one side of the body.
• Difficulty walking, loss of balance or coordination.
• Problem with speaking, slurred speech, or inability to understand simple statements.
• Sudden severe headache, usually described as “the worst headache of your life.”
• Sudden change in vision, blurry, double, dimming or visual loss

Jeanne Robinson, MS, Advance Practice Registered Nurse, Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse (CNRN)
Jeanne is the stroke coordinator and clinical stroke case manager at Kettering Hospital. In addition she is leads the WKNI stroke team. "I am passionate about the need to address the problem of stroke. Since treatment is available to improve function I hope we can educate individuals to recognize symptoms of stroke and come to the Emergency Department immediately when symptoms occur. Time is brain! The sooner treatment is begun the potential for improvement in function and outcomes rises. It is gratifying to see individuals return to their lives after thrombolytic treatment instead of watching the devastation and toll stroke can take upon its victims."

Jeanne earned her Associate degree from Sinclair College, BSN from Capital University, MS and recently completed the Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist program at Wright State University. Her interests in Neuroscience nursing have stimulated her professional and personal growth and her love working with neurological patients are responsible for her commitment to this specialty for the past 17 years. Past experience includes neuro-surgical intensive care, and clinical neurology. Areas of interest and expertise include stroke, seizure disorders, neuro-degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, pain, and headaches. She has presented these topics to audiences of nurses, pharmacists, physicians, patients, caregivers, and the community. She has served on several speakers’ bureaus, advisory boards for epilepsy and multiple sclerosis, and as a support group leader. She is a member of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses, Greater Dayton American Association of Neuroscience Nurses, International Organization of Multiple Sclerosis Nurses, and Sigma Theta Tau chapters Theta Theta and Zeta Phi.

Stroke Links

National Stroke Association
American Stroke Association
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

The Wallace-Kettering Neuroscience Institute
3533 Southern Blvd. Suite 5200
Kettering, OH  45429
937-298-3399 extension 55298