{"id":205822,"date":"2020-05-16T00:46:13","date_gmt":"2020-05-16T00:46:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/5f17670acf5743285.temporary.link\/rohsi.org\/?p=205822"},"modified":"2020-05-16T00:49:30","modified_gmt":"2020-05-16T00:49:30","slug":"could-covid-19-be-causing-strokes-know-the-signs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rohsi.org\/?p=205822","title":{"rendered":"COULD COVID-19 BE CAUSING STROKES? KNOW THE SIGNS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

COULD COVID-19 BE CAUSING STROKES? KNOW THE SIGNS<\/a><\/p>\n

BY\u00a0<\/strong>R. TODD HURST, MD, FACC<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

A new, and frightening, expression of\u00a0COVID-19<\/a>\u00a0infection has surfaced. Numerous physicians around the world are reporting a possibly increased risk for\u00a0blood clots<\/a>\u00a0in patients with COVID-19.<\/p>\n

Blood clots (what doctors call thrombosis) are particularly worrisome because of the potential consequences. Blood clots in the veins can travel to the lungs (which is called pulmonary embolus), a potentially life-threatening problem. Blood clots in the arterial system are even more alarming because these can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and amputations.<\/p>\n

COVID-19 appears to increase blood clots in both the arteries and the veins. Although all of the studies are small and observational at this point, one\u00a0study<\/a>\u00a0from the Netherlands showed that 31% of subjects with COVID-19 in the ICU developed blood clots despite usual measures to prevent clotting. Another small\u00a0study<\/a>\u00a0from China showed that 25% of the COVID-19 patients developed blood clots in the veins. These are shockingly high numbers.<\/p>\n

Physicians are particularly troubled by this possible blood clotting issue for several reasons. One is that the usual treatments (such as blood thinner medications) aren\u2019t working for some patients. Another reason is the report of COVID-19 positive people as young as their 30\u2019s experiencing large strokes that are more typically seen in a much older population.<\/p>\n

More information is needed to understand if this is a true correlation between COVID-19 and blood clotting disorder, what the mechanism is, and, most importantly, how to prevent and treat it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For now, be aware that there\u2019s reason to suspect that COVID-19 could\u00a0possibly<\/em>\u00a0put any of us at risk for stroke.<\/p>\n

So, be alert for stroke symptoms \u2013 sudden weakness, numbness, trouble speaking, seeing, or the onset of a severe headache without other explanation \u2013 even if you wouldn\u2019t ordinarily need to be concerned about stroke risk, and even without other signs of COVID-19 infection.<\/p>\n

If you do experience symptoms that may be stroke-related, it is critically important to seek urgent medical attention. Timing is crucial because the best treatments for these types of stroke need to be delivered in the first 3 hours of symptoms to be most effective. As stroke neurologists like to say, \u201cTime is brain.\u201d<\/p>\n

And if you suspect a stroke in someone else, act F.A.S.T.:<\/p>\n

F.A.S.T.<\/a>\u00a0stands for:<\/p>\n

F\u2014Face:\u00a0<\/strong>Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?<\/p>\n

A\u2014Arms:\u00a0<\/strong>Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?<\/p>\n

S\u2014Speech:\u00a0<\/strong>Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is the speech slurred or strange?<\/p>\n

T\u2014Time:\u00a0<\/strong>If you see any of these signs, call right away.<\/p>\n

Understandably, some are reluctant to go to the hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic, but when it comes to a stroke, the consequences of delaying medical treatment could be devastating.\u00a0Do not delay<\/strong>. Call if anyone has these symptoms.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

COULD COVID-19 BE CAUSING STROKES? KNOW THE SIGNS BY\u00a0R. TODD HURST, MD, FACC A new, and frightening, expression of\u00a0COVID-19\u00a0infection has surfaced. Numerous physicians around the world are reporting a possibly increased risk for\u00a0blood clots\u00a0in patients with COVID-19. Blood clots (what doctors call thrombosis) are particularly worrisome because of the potential consequences. Blood clots in the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[61],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-205822","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-healthy-tips"],"yoast_head":"\nCOULD COVID-19 BE CAUSING STROKES? 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