Stroke - When To Call a Doctor

Call emergency services immediately if:

• Signs of a stroke develop suddenly. These may include:
  • Sudden numbness, paralysis, or weakness in your face, arm, or leg, especially on only one side of your body.
  • New problems with walking or balance.
  • Sudden vision changes.
  • Drooling or slurred speech.
  • New problems speaking or understanding simple statements, or feeling confused.
  • A sudden, severe headache that is different from past headaches.
• You have signs of a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Symptoms are similar to those of a stroke, except:
  • The loss of vision is usually described as a sensation that a shade is being pulled down over one eye.
  • TIA symptoms typically disappear after 10 to 20 minutes but may last longer. There is no way to tell whether the symptoms are caused by a stroke or by TIA, so emergency medical care is needed for both conditions.

Call your doctor immediately if you have:

• Had recent symptoms of a TIA or stroke, even if the symptoms have disappeared.
• Had a TIA or stroke and are taking aspirin or other medicines that prevent blood clotting and you notice any signs of bleeding.
• Had a stroke and have a choking episode from food going down your windpipe.
• Had a stroke and have signs of a blood clot in a deep blood vessel, which include redness, warmth, and pain in a specific area of your arm or leg.

Call your doctor for an appointment if you:

• Think you have had a TIA in the past and have not talked with your doctor about it.
• Have had a stroke and have a pressure sore. Pressure sores, which usually develop along the elbows, ankles, heels, knees, buttocks, and tailbone and on the back along the spine, are caused by staying in one position too long. The first sign of a pressure sore is a reddened area that does not go away with rubbing or massaging.
• Have had a stroke and notice that your affected arm or leg is becoming increasingly stiff or you are not able to straighten it (spasticity).
• Have had a stroke and notice signs of a urinary tract infection. Signs may include fever, pain with urination, blood in urine, and low back (flank) pain. For more information, see the topic Urinary Tract Infections in Teens and Adults.
• Have had a stroke and you are having trouble keeping your balance.

Watchful Waiting

Watchful waiting is not appropriate if you have signs of a stroke. Emergency medical care is needed to prevent or treat any complications that may be life-threatening. Prompt treatment may prevent extensive damage to the brain, decreasing permanent disabilities from the stroke.

If the stroke is caused by a blood clot, early care by a doctor in the emergency room or hospital is critical. If you seek help right away, you can sometimes receive a medicine (tissue plasminogen activator, or t-PA) that dissolves clots. This medicine works best when it is given right after symptoms begin. Not everyone can safely receive this medicine.

Who To See

Doctors who can diagnose and treat stroke include:

• Emergency medicine specialists.
• Family medicine physicians.
• Internists.
• Neurologists.

If you need surgery or have other health problems, other specialists may be consulted, such as a:

• Neurosurgeon.
• Cardiologist.
• Vascular surgeon.

Some hospitals have a stroke team made up of many different health professionals, such as a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, a speech therapist, a rehabilitation doctor (physiatrist), a nurse, and a social worker.