51-3
Chapter One
Stroke Epidemiology
George Howard and Virginia J. Howard
EXAMPLE CASE
A 45-year-old right-handed African-American man
residing in central North Carolina has a history of
hypertension and presents with right-sided weakness
without a language impairment and visual or sensory
deficits. He also has a 50-pack-year history of
cigarette smoking. His examination revels a body
mass index (BMI) of 35, a blood pressure of
180/95 mm Hg, a regular pulse, no cervical bruits,
and no cardiac murmur. His neurological
examination is notable only for a right upper-motor
neuron pattern facial paresis and 3/5 strength in his
right arm and leg with depressed right-sided deep
tendon refl exes and a right plantar-extensor
response. A brain CT scan obtained 4 hours after
symptom onset was normal. An EKG followed by a
transthoracic echocardiogram showed left ventricular
hypertrophy (LVH).
MAJOR POINTS
Although overall stroke mortality rates have been
rapidly declining, consistently higher rates remain
... read full excerpt from A Primer on Stroke Prevention and Treatment: An overview based on AHA/ASA Guidelines ebook
