10 RiversideHealthcare.org Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. and a significant cause of adult disability. That’s why taking steps to prevent a stroke is so important. A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is cut off. This causes brain cells to die and is an emergency requiring immediate treatment. If you or anyone you know experiences one or more of the symptoms illustrated below, call 911 right away. Why you need to act fast As soon as blood flow is blocked, cells in the brain start to die because they aren’t getting the oxygen and blood they need to survive. Dead brain cells can’t be brought back to life. Damage from the most common type of stroke can often be stopped by a medication called alteplase IV r-tPA, which can bust open a clot. But it must be given within a three-hour window. To leave time for evaluation and diagnosis, someone having a stroke must get to a hospital within 60 minutes of when they first started having symptoms. An emerging field that holds great potential to improve stroke outcomes is being used by Riverside. Riverside’s emergency room has begun using Viz.ai software to better diagnose stroke upon a patient’s arrival in the ER. The platform allows multiple providers to review CT scans in real time for more accurate diagnoses, personalized treatments If you suspect you or someone else is having a stroke, think BE FAST. This acronym is an easy way to remember some of the signs and symptoms of stroke and when to get medical help. It also reminds you that stroke is an emergency and that you need to get help quickly. B E F A S Balance loss. Eyesight changes. Face drooping. Arm weakness. Speech difficulty. TIME TO CALL 911. Spot a stroke and more efficient use of resources. Additionally, the technology highlights areas of scans that could be potential problem areas that physicians should closely examine. Before Viz.ai software, patients with strokes would undergo CT scans and wait for providers to review them in a chain of approvals, from radiologists to neurologists and ER physicians. With the new Viz.ai software, Riverside is now diagnosing patients with strokes much quicker and beginning treatment sooner, allowing for more localized care. Sources: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Why prevention and action are the best medicine STROKES: Award-winning stroke care For more on strokes and how you can better prevent them, visit our Neurosciences Institute webpage, linked under “Services,” at RiversideHealthcare.org. T
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