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MUHC Communications [website]

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Learning to Recognize the Symptoms of Stroke

Source: MUHC Communications [newswire]
June 08, 2005

Every hour counts for stroke victims. The sooner these individuals get
to hospital, the less brain damage they will suffer. The McGill
University Health Centre (MUHC), Heart and Stroke Foundation and
Urgences Santé have been working together to raise awareness about the
symptoms of stroke and the importance of getting stroke victims to the
hospital to receive treatment as fast as possible.

"By the time an individual arrives in hospital some permanent damage has
already occurred," said Dr. Richard Riopelle, Chairman of Neurology and
Neurosurgery at the MUHC. "We are now one year into this partnership
program and the results have been immensely encouraging."

Strokes are caused by the interruption of blood flow to the brain. This
can occur as the result of ruptured blood vessels or by a blood clot
blocking the flow. Each year, approximately 50,000 Canadians have
strokes and 18,000 die. Additionally, stroke is the leading cause of
disability in adults over 40 years of age.

"The stroke programs at the MUHC use specialized 'clot-buster'
medication which if administered within three hours of the stroke can
restore blood flow to the affected parts of the brain," said Dr. Robert
Côté, MUHC neurologist and Chairman of the scientific Committee of the
Quebec Heart and Stroke Foundation. "About 40 percent of patients
recover and return to normal life," explained Dr. Côté. "Our aim is to
increase this percentage and send more patients home healthy."

Panagiotis Constantinides is an example of how the stroke awareness
program can be crucial to one's survival. Despite having suffered a
stroke last year, Mr. Constantinides has since recovered and is in good
health. By being able to identify the symptoms he was experiencing, one
of Mr. Constantinides' relatives rushed him to the hospital, ultimately
reducing the damage that had occurred during his stroke. "It happened so
fast and I am grateful that my sister-in-law recognized these symptoms
of stroke, because I was not aware of them," said Mr. Constantinides, "I
can't imagine what kind of state I would be in if I had waited a few
more hours before going to the hospital after I had collapsed." The MUHC
has two designated stroke centers, the Montreal General Hospital (MGH)
and the Montreal Neurological Hospital (MNH), where patients receive the
best care by a multidisciplinary team of experts.

The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) is a comprehensive academic
health institution with an international reputation for excellence in
clinical programs, research and teaching. The MUHC is a merger of five
teaching hospitals affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine at McGill
University--the Montreal Children's, Montreal General, Royal Victoria,
and Montreal Neurological Hospitals, as well as the Montreal Chest
Institute. Building on the tradition of medical leadership of the
founding hospitals, the goal of the MUHC is to provide patient care
based on the most advanced knowledge in the health care field, and to
contribute to the development of new knowledge.

The Montreal Neurological Institute (www.mni.mcgill.ca) is a McGill
University (www.mcgill.ca) research and teaching institute, dedicated to
the study of the nervous system and neurological diseases. Founded in
1934 by the renowned Dr. Wilder Penfield, the MNI is one of the world's
largest institutes of its kind. MNI researchers are world leaders in
cellular and molecular neuroscience, brain imaging, cognitive
neuroscience and the study and treatment of epilepsy, multiple sclerosis
and neuromuscular disorders. The MNI, with its clinical partner, the
Montreal Neurological Hospital (MNH), part of the McGill University
Health Centre (www.muhc.ca), continues to integrate research, patient
care and training, and is recognized as one of the premier neuroscience
centres in the world. Already well known for its McConnell Brain Imaging
Centre, the MNI will expand its brain imaging research in the next
several years through a $28 million award from the Canada Foundation for
Innovation, made in partnership with the government of Quebec. There
will also be further development of MNI initiatives in multiple
sclerosis, optical imaging and nano-neuroscience.

Contact:
Sandra McPherson, PhD
Communications Officer
Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital
514-398-1902
Seeta Ramdass
Communications Coordinator
Public Relations and Communications, MUHC
514-934-1934 Ext. 34320


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