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Suggest Treatment For High Blood Pressure And Weakness On The Arm
Question: I accompanied my mother to a doctors appt 2.5 weeks ago for high blood pressure and a week right arm. The prior week she had been to see him about her week hand and arm, he told her she had very high blood pressure and prescribed her some pills and sent her home. I took her back a week later and questioned him about the possibility that she might have had a stroke. He shook his hands at me and said not necessarily and that was the end of that conversation. Told her to continue taking her medication because the blood pressure was still very high and that was it. My Mom was not happy about the pills she was taking because they were making her dizzy so we went to a pharmacist we know and he was monitoring her blood pressure every few days. Unfortunately a few days later we had to rush her to the hospital because she could no longer walk on her own and was losing her ability to finish a sentence. She deteriorated in front of my eyes. It is now 1.5 weeks later and she is in the hospital, cannot eat, move, speak or swallow. The tests tell us she had a stroke probably 4.5 weeks ago now because of a blocked artery in her neck. What was the appropriate thing for the doctor when we went to see him in his office? Could this really have been missed?
Brief Answer:
Stroke should have been suspected on first visit.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query.
I have noted your mother's symptoms. They were suggestive of stroke at first visit too. Weakness of right arm should have raised a possibility of stroke, and brain MRI/MR angiogram should have been ordered to confirm the diagnosis.
High BP can be a risk factor for stroke bu by itself can not cause weak right arm.
If a stroke gets diagnosed within four and a half hours of symptom onset, they can be thrombolysed with tissue plasminogen activator. this ensures faster recovery and lesser rates of disability.
Even if a stroke gets diagnosed after four and half hours, the person can be started on aspirin and progression of symptoms/weakness can be prevented with that.
I hope my reply has helped you.
I would be pleased to answer, if you have any follow up queries or if you require any further information.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX
For DIRECT QUERY to me: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My blog: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.com/
Stroke should have been suspected on first visit.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query.
I have noted your mother's symptoms. They were suggestive of stroke at first visit too. Weakness of right arm should have raised a possibility of stroke, and brain MRI/MR angiogram should have been ordered to confirm the diagnosis.
High BP can be a risk factor for stroke bu by itself can not cause weak right arm.
If a stroke gets diagnosed within four and a half hours of symptom onset, they can be thrombolysed with tissue plasminogen activator. this ensures faster recovery and lesser rates of disability.
Even if a stroke gets diagnosed after four and half hours, the person can be started on aspirin and progression of symptoms/weakness can be prevented with that.
I hope my reply has helped you.
I would be pleased to answer, if you have any follow up queries or if you require any further information.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX
For DIRECT QUERY to me: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My blog: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.com/
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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