The ultimate success of stroke care depends on one factor: time. “People need to recognize symptoms of stroke and call 911,” says neurologist and neurocritical care specialist Christopher Melinosky, MD, with Lehigh Valley Health Network Neurology. “When you call an ambulance, it triggers an alert, so that a stroke team is waiting at the hospital when you arrive, ready to provide immediate treatment.”

Be FAST

Dr. Melinosky says the mnemonic BE FAST is the most useful way to remember stroke symptoms:

B – Balance: Is balance or coordination suddenly impaired?

E – Eyes: Is vision suddenly blurred or double?

F – Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A – Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S – Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is speech slurred or strange?

T – Time: If you see any of these signs, call 911 right away.

“If you think you’re having a stroke, don’t take an aspirin, which is only recommended when you are having heart attack symptoms,” Dr. Melinosky says. “If you are having a hemorrhagic stroke, aspirin may worsen bleeding in the brain. The best thing to do is call 911 immediately.”

Types of Stroke

• Ischemic stroke occurs when a vessel carrying blood to the brain is blocked by a clot, causing an interruption in blood flow.

Ischemic stroke accounts for about 85 percent of all strokes. The first-line treatment for ischemic stroke is an injection of the clot-busting medication called tenecteplase (TNK). This medication must be administered within a 3-hour window of symptom onset (and up to 4.5 hours in certain patients) to work best.

Mechanical thrombectomy, in which doctors manually remove a clot using a catheter, can be performed up to 24 hours after symptom onset in certain patients, and often offers the greatest chance at recovery.

• Hemorrhagic stroke is caused by bleeding into or around the brain; it accounts for about 15 percent of strokes but about 40 percent of stroke deaths. This type of stroke may be treated with medications that control further bleeding, control high blood pressure and reduce brain swelling.

Surgery also can be performed to seal off or repair bleeding vessels in some cases.

• Transient ischemic attack (TIA) occurs when blood flow to the brain stops for a short time, causing strokelike symptoms. TIA, sometimes called a “ministroke,” is a warning that you are in danger of having a major stroke. This is considered a neurological emergency, and appropriate workup may actually be able to prevent a stroke.

LVHN provides unparalleled stroke diagnosis, treatment and prevention services.

In 2012, Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Cedar Crest was the first hospital in Pennsylvania to be certified as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, where you receive the highest level of stroke care.

LVH–Muhlenberg, LVH–Hazleton, LVH–Schuylkill, LVH–Pocono and LVH–Hecktown Oaks are all certified Primary Stroke Centers, offering special procedures to rapidly diagnose and treat stroke.

Visit LVHN.org/stroke to learn more.