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This week on Health Watch, we’re talking about stroke, in recognition of American Stroke Month. While a stroke can be debilitating or deadly, there are treatments available that can help prevent serious damage. These treatments must be given within three hours of the stroke beginning. That makes it important to learn to recognize the symptoms of stroke.
Dr. Mark Johnson, a neurologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says the difficulty is that a stroke, unlike a heart attack, often doesn’t hurt. Common stroke symptoms include dizziness, numbness, mental confusion, vision problems, trouble with coordination and severe headache — all of which come on suddenly. If you notice these symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately. Don’t wait around and hope for it to get better. The sooner you get treatment for a stroke, more of your brain may be saved.
Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/neurosciences to learn more about UT Southwestern’s clinical services in neurosciences.
