Virginia Beach, Va. May 25, 2006 Stroke, also known as a brain attack, is the nations third leading cause of death, killing nearly 160,000 Americans every year. Stroke is also one of the most preventable and treatable of all medical conditions. Key factors in surviving a stroke include knowledge of the symptoms and risk factors, and seeking immediate medical treatment within the first three hours of the first sign of stroke.
The most common signs and symptoms of stroke include:
H headache sudden onset
E eye problems (blurred, decreased, double or loss of vision)
L language problems/lightheadedness (slurred speech, difficulty understanding speech, dizziness, loss of balance or unexplained falls)
P paralysis, or the inability to move one or both sides of the body, weakness or numbness
HELP = Call 911
Aside from routine care, there is currently only one FDA-approved drug treatment for acute ischemic stroke, explained Neurologist Sidney Mallenbaum, M.D., director of Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital Stroke Services.
New medicines are also under investigation to determine whether they can protect brain tissue from stroke damage, but all of these drugs must be administered within a few hours of symptom onset, Mallenbaum said.
Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital is the only clinical trial site in Virginia to participate in a landmark stroke treatment trial called "SAINT II," Stroke Acute Ischemic NXY Treatment. Sponsored by AstraZeneca, SAINT IIthe largest stroke clinical trial in history for a new drugis a randomized, double-blinded study designed to test whether an investigational drug improves disability in patients who have experienced strokes resulting from clots. The study is being conducted worldwide. Virginia Beach Generals patient enrollment rate is among the highest in the study.
Dr. Mallenbaum is the principle investigator of the clinical trials at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital. It is absolutely essential that we do a better job of convincing more of the 750,000 stroke victims per year to get to the hospital quickly, Mallenbaum said. We want to save lives and prevent the disabling effects of stroke.
General risk factors include family history of stroke or heart disease, age, gender, medical history and race; modifiable risk factors include high blood pressure, undesirable levels of cholesterol and diabetes and lifestyle risk factors include cigarette smoking, obesity, use of birth control pills, excessive alcohol consumption, drug abuse, and physical inactivity.
To learn more, call Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospitals clinical research coordinator at 481-1444, extension 15.
Sentara Norfolk General Hospital also provides stroke treatment and was the first hospital in the Commonwealth of Virginia to earn Primary Stroke Center certification from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
Sentara Healthcare is a premier not-for-profit health care provider in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina.
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