Week 3: Stroke

Question 1

What is the epidemiology of stroke?

Answer 1

• 800,000/year of new or recurrent strokes
• 5 mil TIA patients/year
• leading cause of long term disability and 4th leading cause of death
• 1/15 deaths due to stroke

Question 2

What are the warning signs of stroke?

Answer 2

Sudden weakness or numbness
Sudden change in vision
Sudden difficulty speaking or understanding
Sudden dizziness or loss of balance
Sudden headache

Question 3

What are the types of stroke?

Answer 3

1. Ischemic (80%)
   - mainly atherothrombotic
   - lacunar
   - cardioembolic
   - cryptogenic
2. Hemorrhagic (20%)

Question 4

Diagnosing a stroke.

Answer 4

• lab studies: CBC, aPTT, PT, TT times
• EKG
• Chest X ray
• CT scan

Question 5

Treating a stroke

Answer 5

• Time is the most important

- can give tPA within 3 hours of onset in ischemic stroke

Question 6

What are the risk factors for stroke?

Answer 6

1. hypertension
2. cholesterol
3. cigarettes
4. A fib
5. heavy alcohol use