MCA-stroke

[mrslackalot]

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So, the saying is that arm/face weakness and speech is a sign of a stroke, and that is what people want the general public to know. But that only represents MCA-stroke. Why is that the case? Is it because MCA is by far the most predominant?

 

[typhoonegator]

large artery MCA strokes, ICA occlusions, as well as small vessel capsule, corona radiata, and brainstem strokes all can cause lateralized F/A/L weakness. Taken together, this makes up a large proportion of strokes. The remainder would be much harder for the public to diagnose.

 

[Mattchiavelli]

"Speech" in terms of stroke warning signs is like typhoonegator said a very gross term- it can be true aphasia (Broca's, Wernickies, or both), but also "Speech difficulty" could represent something causing trouble moving the tongue (CN XII) trouble moving the palate and repositioning vocal cords (CN X) or dysarthria (cerebellar lesions and associated friends)

 

[danielmd06]

So, the saying is that arm/face weakness and speech is a sign of a stroke, and that is what people want the general public to know. But that only represents MCA-stroke. Why is that the case? Is it because MCA is by far the most predominant?

I can only offer an opinion and not definitive explanation here but...

The idea is to help the general public be more aware of potential ischemic cerebrovascular disease because there can be a relatively short (and unforgiving) timeframe for bringing these patients into the local emergency department for evaluation.

The most overt symptomatology for a stroke (for the public and non-neurological specialists) is weakness of the face, arm, leg, and/or slurred speech.

Of course there can be other signs and symptoms, but open your net too wide and suddenly *everything* becomes a stroke.

 

[AlternateSome1]

Also, it isn't such a big deal if a person with a numb arm doesn't get TPA. If you lose your speech or you can't walk, you wind up with more significant disability.

 

[mrslackalot]

thanks all!