For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Heather Monroe ([email protected])847/378-0500
President Ford's Delayed Stroke Diagnosis
American Association of Neurological Surgeons Urges Primary Care Physicians and the Public to Learn and Act on Stroke Warning Signs
ROLLING MEADOWS, IL (August 4, 2000) --Earlier this week, former President Gerald Ford suffered two strokes that were erroneously misdiagnosed as a sinus infection. This error could have cost America's 38th President his life. Each year, more than 700,000 people suffer a stroke. Frequently referred to as "brain attack," stroke is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. It is also the number one cause of disability, with more than 3 million people living with permanent physical and mental impairment from brain damage caused by stroke.
The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) has recognized the urgent need for patient and physician education to combat this devastating problem. The AANS is actively involved in educating referring physicians about the onset of stroke symptoms through both educational exhibits and materials offered to both patients and physicians. The goal of the AANS effort is to ensure that patients such as President Gerald Ford, receive the care they need in a timely manner.
"Educating the public and health care professionals about preventative therapies and the urgency of treatment is the key to reducing stroke incidence and its disastrous outcomes" says Warren Selman, MD, chair of the AANS stroke public education program. "If stroke is treated in time, it is possible to lessen its devastating impact."
Stroke is one of the least understood medical emergencies. It is important to note that stroke is a cerebrovascular problem that is generally characterized by an abrupt disruption in the blood flow in the brain. This disruption can occur in one of two ways--a clot can block a blood vessel, or a blood vessel can burst and bleed inside the skull. The interruption of blood flow prevents oxygen and vital nutrients from reaching the brain. When the brain is deprived of essential nutrients, its cells cease functioning and patients begin to lose the ability to speak, move and lose their memory. Left untreated, stroke can kill or severely disable.
The more patients know about stroke and its related warning signs, the better the chance they will have to avoid having a stroke in the first place. Some key points to keep in mind are:
* Stroke is a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 -- Stroke robs the brain of its necessary blood flow, causing brain cells to stop functioning and die. The damage done by a stroke also is progressive and early treatment or lack thereof can affect the patient's eventual outcome.
* Stroke damages the brain -- When the brain cells stop functioning, the patient begins to lose the power of speech, movement and memory. Left untreated, it can kill or severely disable.
* Stroke outcome is improved by fast treatment -- New treatments, including drug therapies, have been developed for preventing strokes and for stopping strokes in progress, so it's critical that a patient seek, and receive, help at once.
* Stroke centers make a difference -- Treatment is best accomplished in a stroke center by a multi-specialty team of physicians.
The best treatment for stroke is to prevent one from happening in the first place. For physicians, identifying those at high risk of suffering a stroke and recognizing "warning signs" can help prevent a stroke and knowing a patient's history and conducting a complete physical examination can help a physician prevent a devastating brain attack. If a patient is deemed at risk, preventative therapies can be initiated. Recommended patient screening steps for the family physician include:
* Taking note of both modifiable behavior (hypertension, cardiac health, lifestyle/behavior, narrowing of the carotid arteries) and unmodifiable risk factors (age, sex, race, family history) for stroke when taking a patient's history.
* Being alert to the patient's mention of any warning signs, which can include sudden weakness or numbness in the face, leg or arm on one side of the body; inability to speak or understand speech; visual disturbances, including blocked or loss of vision in one eye; unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness or sudden falls; or sudden onset of a severe headache.
* Understanding whether the patient's symptoms are those of a potential stroke or hallmarks of another problem such as migraine headaches, aneurysm, or multiple sclerosis.
The best way for patients to receive the most effective treatments is to get to an emergency room upon the onset of symptoms. By better understanding stroke, patients and physicians alike can help reach an improvement in stroke prevention as well as a reduction in its life-altering effects.
Founded in 1931 as the Harvey Cushing Society, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons is a scientific and educational association with nearly 5,800 members worldwide. The AANS is dedicated to advancing the specialty of neurological surgery in order to provide the highest quality of neurosurgical care to the public. All Active members of the AANS are Board-certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery. Neurological surgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of disorders that affect the spinal column, spinal cord, brain, nervous system and peripheral nerves.
# # #
RSS