STROKE (BRAIN ATTACK) - William A. Tosches, MD; Michael Previti, MD8

STROKE (BRAIN ATTACK) - William A. Tosches, MD; Michael Previti, MD

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

· Carotid circulation (hemispheric): Hemiplegia, hemianesthesia, neglect, aphasia, visual field defects; less often headaches, seizures, amnesia, confusion

· Vertebrobasilar (brainstem or cerebellar): Diplopia, vertigo, ataxia, facial paresis, Horner syndrome, dysphagia, dysarthria

· Impaired level of consciousness

· Cerebellar lesion in patients with headache, nausea, vomiting, and ataxia

Physical Exam

· Early mortality increases among those with any combination of impaired consciousness, hemiplegia, and conjugate gaze palsy

· Symptoms associated with the diagnosis of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) are a sudden change in speech, visual loss, diplopia, numbness or tingling, paralysis or weakness, and nonorthostatic dizziness