FAST Response to Stroke Symptoms and tPA Saves a Life | Althea’s Story
FAST Response to Stroke Symptoms and tPA Saves a Life | Althea’s Story
Recognizing the signs of a stroke and getting to The Johns Hopkins Hospital quickly meant Althea got the clot busting medication tPA (tissue plasminogen activator), which saved her life. Watch her story to learn what you can do in a similar situation and how the Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Stroke Center is continually making research advances in stroke treatments.
Learn more:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neuro…
Content
0.41 -> [MUSIC]
1.51 -> >> I was in the kitchen,
I came upstairs.
3.915 -> I felt warm.
5.67 -> I called my son for some cold water.
8.115 -> My arm started feeling funny,
10.065 -> it felt like there was something
11.655 -> tied around it or a
rubber band or something.
13.875 -> I don't know. My
speech was messed up.
16.08 -> Go get Doreen.
17.64 -> Cause I'm still hearing myself.
19.71 -> I'm like something's not right.
21.21 -> Doreen came in and said, oh, no, ma.
24.24 -> You're having a stroke. You
have to go to the hospital.
27.9 -> >> Althea came to the
hospital in time and she
31.02 -> was having a relatively
large size stroke.
34.095 -> If the large blood
vessel remained blocked,
37.14 -> the stroke could have progressed
to her having loss of
39.72 -> language as well as
41.45 -> permanent weakness on the
right side of her body.
44.305 -> >> [inaudible] you know,
luckily you got here when
48.12 -> you did because they was able
to give me the Clot Buster.
51.835 -> >> With the TPA, the
clot-busting medication.
54.96 -> The medication did its job
to open the blood vessel,
57.605 -> remove the blood clot so
that the blood flow could be
60.65 -> restored to that area that was
already receiving some damage.
64.01 -> You could see here that
that's the area of damage.
66.845 -> Althea would have been at risk
to have a stroke this big if not
70.34 -> for the medication
that she received that
71.87 -> minimized the size of the stroke.
73.58 -> >> They was looking at
me and I was talking.
75.875 -> Next thing I was [inaudible] I just
79.53 -> started talking regularly
it was amazing.
81.825 -> >> So many people say
it's like a traffic jam.
83.99 -> We know you have a blood vessel
that's blocked with a traffic jam.
86.9 -> This TPA just creates a lane so
that blood can pass through again.
90.485 -> She's had a good clinical
result and while we're really
92.69 -> wanting to make sure we reduce
her risk for a future stroke.
95.795 -> Once Althea made it through
the emergency department,
98.36 -> she came up to the stroke unit,
100.49 -> which is a place where
102.335 -> patients come to have very close
monitoring with Nursing and
105.23 -> Neurology where she
could really start
107.69 -> the diagnostic testing
of why the stroke
109.64 -> happened to her on
this particular day.
112.415 -> >> I could feel the pressure.
114.08 -> >> It's really critical
in those first hours
116.27 -> and days that we get patients on
117.68 -> the right medications to prevent
119.24 -> further strokes from
happening, recurrent strokes.
122.465 -> She underwent a series of
124.58 -> expedited tests when
she was on our floor.
126.845 -> >> Push up. Excellent.
128.75 -> >> The second branch of what we work
130.76 -> on immediately upon
arrival is getting
132.89 -> recovery from the
symptoms of strokes that
134.87 -> people can return to
their productive lives.
137.37 -> >> I was so glad I
made it here to get
140.81 -> the Cloud Buster because I
wouldn't be where I am right now.
144.05 -> I wouldn't be talking like this.
146.015 -> I wouldn't be walking up. I could
go to the bathroom by myself.
148.535 -> I can take a shower by myself.
150.02 -> I don't need help. I
don't have to worry about
152.33 -> standing up and falling
over and stuff like that.
155.34 -> >> Seeing a patient who goes from
158.329 -> having severe weakness on one
side of their body and having
161.405 -> devastating symptoms where
they can't function for
163.61 -> themselves to being essentially
165.5 -> independent again like Althea was,
167.45 -> walking and talking just fine.
169.13 -> It's a really rewarding career.
170.6 -> Researchers here are
really figuring out
172.58 -> how to tackle at the highest level,
174.575 -> the motor recovery after stroke.
176.46 -> We're using innovative video games
178.64 -> to help people to engage
in their therapies.
181.385 -> We're looking at different ways
that we can help the brain
184.28 -> re-circuit itself to move
185.6 -> around the disabilities
that people have.
187.64 -> We're trying to find new
drugs and new therapies that
190.4 -> can extend the window of who is
eligible for stroke treatments.
193.52 -> I think taking this comprehensive
approach to research here
197.33 -> at Johns Hopkins will really
198.8 -> benefit future stroke
patients tremendously.
201.365 -> >> I was lucky. Everybody
around me walks fast.
205.335 -> I got here fast and I got
the Clot Buster fast.
208.47 -> >> It is really critical
for people to know
210.26 -> that if you have signs of weakness,
212.045 -> numbness, change in
how you're speaking,
214.43 -> change in how you're seeing.
215.72 -> You should call 9-1-1 and
come to the hospital,
218.105 -> let the evaluation happen and
if there's nothing going wrong,
221.015 -> you can be sent home that same day.
223.025 -> But if it is a stroke,
there could be
224.48 -> therapies that could
reverse the symptoms.
226.87 -> >> I feel blessed. Know your body,
229.935 -> listen to your body.
231.75 -> You can prevent a lot and you can
be saved like me, I was saved.
237.466 -> [MUSIC]
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwuaQbgC4ao