Years ago, doctors could do little for patients who suffered strokes except make them as comfortable as possible and let nature take its course.

That's not the case any longer. Thanks to a clot-busting medication called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), doctors can often halt, minimize and even reverse the potentially debilitating effects of strokes. But tPA is only effective when doctors can give it to patients within the first three hours after stroke symptoms start.

"Our worst enemy is a lack of public awareness about stroke symptoms," says Philip W. Tally, MD, a neurosurgeon and Chief of Staff at Manatee Memorial Hospital. "If we can get patients inside the door sooner, they'll have better chances of surviving strokes and living normal and active lives. We sometimes call strokes ‘brain attacks' because we want people to know that brain attacks, like heart attacks, need immediate medical attention."

Don't Wait for Pain
Imagine this scenario: You feel dizzy. One side of your body seems weak. And you suddenly don't understand what people are saying. Would you know what to do? If you're like many people, you'd wait longer than you should before getting the help you need.

There's a lot of confusion about stroke symptoms. Many people simply don't know that sudden dizziness and weakness are signs of a stroke. Others expect strokes to be painful.

"We have a saying, ‘If there's no pain, it's the brain,' " says Dr. Tally. "People experiencing strokes often aren't in pain, so they assume they'll get better. By the time they realize they need help, they may be outside the critical time frame for treatment."

A Stroke Is a Medical Emergency
Although heart attack symptoms develop slowly in most people, stroke symptoms usually strike suddenly.

"People need to recognize the symptoms of strokes and be prepared to act so they can help avoid the devastating effects of strokes," says Ralph Gonzalez, MD, a neurologist and Medical Director of the new Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center at Manatee Memorial Hospital. "Many patients don't survive. And those who do may go from living active and independent lives to needing nursing home care."

Your chances of surviving and recovering from a stroke are much greater if you seek care quickly. So don't delay. Call 911 immediately if you develop symptoms of a stroke.

Your prompt response can also help save the life of a loved one, an acquaintance or a stranger. If you suspect that someone is having a stroke, ask him or her to smile, raise both arms and speak a simple sentence. Call 911 if the person has difficulty with any of these simple tasks.

When a patient or family member calls 911 to report a stroke, emergency personnel respond and call the hospital stroke team from the field so the team is ready when the patient arrives.

Doctors immediately order high-speed CT scans and lab work when they suspect a stroke, and staff in those areas process the tests quickly. Within a short period of time, doctors have the information they need to diagnose the patient's condition and start appropriate treatment.

Advanced Stroke Care Close to Home
Local residents can get the advanced stroke therapy they need here at the new Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center. The center has a team of multidisciplinary experts available 24 hours a day to evaluate and treat patients who suffer from stroke or other cerebrovascular disorders.

Dr. Gonzalez says he believes we are ready to respond rapidly and efficiently. We're battling the clock to limit damage to the brain so we can save lives and reduce stroke-related disabilities.

"We start treatment as soon as we can," says Dr. Gonzalez. "If we can treat patients within three hours of the onset of stroke symptoms, we may be able to dissolve the blood clots that cause many strokes."

Meeting Our Patients' Needs
Staff at the center evaluate and treat patients who suffer all types of strokes. The center's multidisciplinary team of specialists includes experienced neurosurgeons who are available when patients need comprehensive surgical services for strokes or other cerebrovascular disorders. Surgeons may perform open surgery or use minimally invasive techniques to:

• Remove blood clots that often form during hemorrhagic strokes
• Repair aneurysms
• Open life-threatening blockages and restore blood flow through the carotid artery to the brain

Rehabilitation also plays a major role in the recovery process for many patients. Rehab specialists begin working with patients while they're hospitalized to help them regain as much function as possible.

For more information about the new Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center at Manatee Memorial Hospital, please call 941-746-5111.

Seek Emergency Care Immediately for Stroke Symptoms
These stroke symptoms usually develop suddenly:

• Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Confusion
• Difficulty speaking or understanding speech
• Dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, difficulty walking
• Difficulty seeing
• Severe headache with no known cause

Working Together to Improve Stroke and Cerebrovascular Care
When developing the new Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center at Manatee Memorial Hospital, a team of multidisciplinary specialists worked together, along with staff in other departments and emergency medical personnel, to create a comprehensive program that would make a difference in the community.

These diverse groups streamlined processes and put national stroke treatment protocols and best practices in place. They're also tracking patient outcomes and implementing other procedures to achieve designation as a primary stroke center.

Ralph Gonzalez, MD Bradenton Neurology Assoc. 3930 8th Ave. West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-746-3115

Philip W. Tally, MD Neuro/Spinal Associates 6015 Pointe West Blvd. Bradenton, FL 34209 941-794-3118