Stroke Awareness Foundation Blog

There are two types of ischemic strokes: embolic and thrombotic.  In an embolic stroke, a blood clot or plaque fragment forms somewhere in the body (usually the heart or tin the large arteries leading to the brain) and moves through the bloodstream to the brain.  Once in the brain, the blot blocks a blood vessel and leads to a stroke.  A thrombotic stroke is a blood clot that does not travel but forms inside an artery which supplies blood to the brain.  The clot may interrupt he blood flow and cause a stroke.

 Tell your story, share what you did to regain your strength and start your life again after stroke.  Connect with other stroke survivors, receive encouragement and support.  Be included and share resources. 

The University of Montana has published a news release that  Montana researchers have learned that low doses of methamphetamine given to rodents after strokes reduce brain damage and impairment by 50 percent or more.  As far as we know this this treatment has never been done before and it has been reported that this damage-reducing stroke drug is moving to human trials.  This group is unfamiliar to us as is their  highly unusual  treatment approach.  If you are knowledgeable about this or other non standard of care stroke practices please let us know.

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, espcially on one side of the body.
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
• Sudden sever headache with no known cause.

Any of the above symptoms may be temporary and last only a few minutes.  This may be due to a “mini-stroke” called a transient ischemic attack (TIA) TIAs are extremely important indicators of an impending stroke.  Don’t ignore them!  If symptoms appear call 911 to get medical attention immediately.