LINCOLN, Neb. (RFD News) — Recognizing the warning signs of a stroke and seeking treatment quickly can make a significant difference in patient outcomes.
Dr. Jeffrey Gold, President of the University of Nebraska, joined us on Wednesday’s Rural Health Matters to discuss stroke prevention and response.
In his conversation with RFD News, Gold discussed what a stroke is, the warning signs people should watch for and the importance of seeking treatment quickly.
“A stroke is sort of like a heart attack of the brain. It’s either a temporary or permanent reduction in blood flow to a small, or potentially life-threatening, part of our brain.”
Gold also encouraged people to be aware of common stroke warning signs, including lightheadedness, loss of balance, vision changes and weakness in an arm or leg.
“You really want to get on the phone and get help quickly because right now, with some of the medical intervention that we have, the so-called clot-busting drugs and the ways that we can actually remove clots from blood vessels inside of the brain, you can turn what would have been a life-threatening or totally disabling stroke into complete and normal recovery.”
Gold also discussed ongoing efforts to improve stroke care and response in rural America.
