Par temps froid, les vaisseaux sanguins du corps peuvent se constricter et devenir plus petits, augmentant la pression artérielle des vaisseaux, qui est un facteur de risque majeur pour un accident vasculaire cérébral.
BRAINERD — There’s the old saying that “a bad day fishing beats a good day working.” But that might not have been the case for 66-year-old Nisswa resident Tom Krueger this past fall. A Sept. 30 fishing trip on Gull Lake with high school friends took a turn for the worse.
“The weather was nice, but the bite was slow, so we wanted to keep fishing,” said Krueger in a news release. “I went to move the boat and my whole left arm was limp. I couldn’t feel a thing.”
Krueger and his friends knew he needed medical attention. They docked the boat and went to
Essentia Health Urgent Care-Baxter
, where providers immediately knew Krueger needed a higher level of care. At
Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center
in Brainerd, a stroke alert was initiated. Within 25 minutes, Krueger was diagnosed and treated for his stroke — 35 minutes faster than the national goal as set by the American Heart Association.
“Care for the patient starts in the emergency room and includes rapid stroke recognition, early imaging, connecting with a neurologist and quick, time-sensitive treatment with Tenecteplase,” said Dr. Richie Castle, a hospitalist at St. Joseph’s Medical Center. “Once admitted it is my role as the hospitalist to determine the underlying cause of the stroke, which guides medication choices and treatment plan. This comprehensive care helps improve outcomes and prevent stroke.”
“The care was top-notch,” said Krueger. “They took all the precautions and really took good care of me. All things considered, it’s a great place, and I’m grateful for the care they provided me.”
Krueger spent three days in the ICU for monitoring and further testing due to a family history of cardiac events. After several scans and heart tests, Krueger was on his way to recovery, with no lasting side effects.
“It’s a blessing that it was as mild as it was,” said Krueger. “But it’s a wake-up call for sure. I’ve made some lifestyle changes that the doctors advised, but overall I’m happy and healthy and taking it one day at a time.”
“As a small hospital, without this level of stroke care available immediately, many eligible patients would be evaluated too late to receive outcome-changing care,” Castle said. “By having all the in-hospital tests, imaging, stroke-trained nurses and specialties and neurology right here close to home, the patient can get comprehensive stroke care and be discharged without the difficulties of traveling several hours.”
Studies from the American Heart Association show that strokes are more likely to occur during the winter months. In cold weather, the body’s blood vessels can constrict and become smaller, increasing the vessels’ blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for a stroke. Additionally, the cold can cause the blood to thicken, which increases the likelihood of a clot.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is also a major risk factor. This can cause the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the brain to burst or be blocked, causing a stroke. The American Heart Association reports that hypertension is the leading cause of stroke, and one in three Americans have it and don’t know about it. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, Crow Wing County is one of 13 counties in Minnesota where at least 10,000 people are living with hypertension.
Use the acronym “BEFAST” to spot common signs of stroke. It could save your life or the life of a loved one.
Balance — Does the person have sudden loss of balance?Eyes — Has the person lost vision in one or both eyes?Face — Smile. Does one side of the face droop?Arms — Raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?Speech — Repeat a simple phrase. Is speech slurred or strange?
Time — If you observe any of these signs, call 911 right away.
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