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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Are The Symptoms Of Potential Stroke?

ACCORDING TO MY MOTHER MY FATHER WHO IS 80 AND ONLY HAS 1/4 OF A HEATHLY HEART, WAS PLAYING CARDS LAST NIGHT WHEN HE LOOKED OFF INTO SPACE BECAME UNRESPONSIVE TO HER, HIS LEFT SIDE OF HIS MOUTH CHANGED, SHE SAID HE APPEARED TO HAVE HAD A STROKE, AND HE WAS FOAMING AT THE MOUTH. WHEN HE CAME OUT OF IT HE WAS FINE AND CONTINUED PLAYING CARDS. REFUSED TO CALL 911. HERE IS MY QUESTIONS, COULD THAT BE A STROKE AND CAN IT BE DETECTED THE DAY AFTER? WHAT COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE HIM TO FOAM AT THE MOUTH?
Mon, 1 Dec 2014
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Neurologist,  's  Response
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
That episode you are describing could be the result of stroke, luckily the fact that his symptoms have regressed meaning it was perhaps of the type of a transient ischemic attack, meaning the interruption of blood flow has been restored soon enough not to have left a permanent damage or a small stroke and the damage has been minor. Another possibility is for it to have been a seizure, but at that age seizures are often a consequence of stroke anyway.
As for the exams a MRI should be performed to look both for a stroke as well as to exclude other reasons like a tumor causing a seizure. If MRI is not promptly available a CT scan would be useful as well. Don't be surprised if the MRI doesn't show anything, if a transient ischemic attack that could be the case.
What's more important then that though is lowering the risk for a second stroke in the future which could have bigger consequences. The main risk factor in your father's case could be his heart problem which could predispose his heart to create and release clots in the circulation causing stroke. So that's the main issue which should be looked at for which blood thinning products should be given. Also high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking should be adressed as well as risk factors for stroke.
Hope things work out for the best, feel free to ask further questions.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Potential Stroke?

I read your question carefully and I understand your concern. That episode you are describing could be the result of stroke, luckily the fact that his symptoms have regressed meaning it was perhaps of the type of a transient ischemic attack, meaning the interruption of blood flow has been restored soon enough not to have left a permanent damage or a small stroke and the damage has been minor. Another possibility is for it to have been a seizure, but at that age seizures are often a consequence of stroke anyway. As for the exams a MRI should be performed to look both for a stroke as well as to exclude other reasons like a tumor causing a seizure. If MRI is not promptly available a CT scan would be useful as well. Don t be surprised if the MRI doesn t show anything, if a transient ischemic attack that could be the case. What s more important then that though is lowering the risk for a second stroke in the future which could have bigger consequences. The main risk factor in your father s case could be his heart problem which could predispose his heart to create and release clots in the circulation causing stroke. So that s the main issue which should be looked at for which blood thinning products should be given. Also high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking should be adressed as well as risk factors for stroke. Hope things work out for the best, feel free to ask further questions.