Recognise Stroke Symptoms and 24 Hours Emergency Stroke MRI

Recognising stroke symptoms such as sudden severe headache, dizziness, numbness, confusion, difficulty speaking or vision changes is crucial for initiating rapid treatments to salvage the brain.

Common neurological symptoms related to brain and spines:

Sudden severe headache:
- Usually with no known cause.
- Seen in approximately 10-20% of strokes, often associated with hemorrhagic strokes.
Dizziness, vertigo, or sense of spinning:
- Present in about 20-30% of posterior circulation strokes.
Numbness or Sensory loss:
- Sensory loss or numbness on one side of the face or body.
- Present in 50-60% of stroke patients
Sudden weakness on one side of the face, arm, or leg (hemiparesis or hemiplegia):
- Around 40-50% of stroke patients exhibit facial weakness
- Approximately 70-80% of stroke patients experience unilateral motor weakness or paralysis on one side of the body.
Coordination problems, loss of balance and difficulty walking:
- Sudden trouble walking, unsteady gait or loss of balance.
- Occurs in 30-50% of stroke cases.
Speech difficulties:
- Difficulty understanding speech, difficulty in speaking (aphasia), speaking with wrong words (dysphasia), slurred speech, or poor articulation (dysarthria).
- Happens in about 50-70% of ischemic stroke patients.
Cognitive and memory impairment:
- Impaired memory and cognitive function.
- Varies widely but can be significant in up to 40-50% of stroke survivors.
Confusion, drowsiness, altered consciousness or coma:
- Seen in roughly 10-20% of severe strokes.
- Particularly in severe strokes.
Visual disturbances (blurred vision, double vision):
- Visual blurring, trouble seeing, visual fields cut, eyelid drooping ( ptosis ), double vision (diplopia), abnormal eye positions or movements (squint, nystagmus)
- Estimated in 15-30% of strokes, especially involving the brainstem.
Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia):
- Occurs in 20-40% of strokes, and can even not swallow their own saliva.
- Especially brainstem strokes.

Recognising stroke symptoms is crucial for initiating rapid action to salvage the brain.

24 Hours Emergency MRI for Quick Diagnosis of Acute Stroke

"Time is Brain"

Golden Hours of Rapid Diagnosis and Acute Stroke Treatment:

Acute stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, either due to a blockage (ischemic stroke) or bleeding (hemorrhagic stroke).
"Time is Brain" When it comes to strokes, every second counts. Because brain cells can die within minutes of blood flow interruption, every second and minute matters.
The Golden Hours of acute stroke are crucial for brain salvage. Within a few hours after the onset of stroke symptoms, an accurate diagnosis must be promptly made, followed by timely and effective treatment.
Brain salvage within the Golden Hours aims to save lives, prevent irreversible brain damage, and minimise long-term neurological deficits.
Make a difference in the lives of stroke survivors: Thus, timely diagnosis of a stroke followed immediately by effective treatments within the Golden Hours enhances patient recovery and outcomes, making a significant difference in the lives of stroke survivors.

24/7 Emergency MRI for Rapid Diagnosis for Acute Stroke:

An urgent MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) stroke screening is essential for early and accurate diagnosis within the Golden Hours, especially for ischemic stroke.
MRI provides detailed imaging of the brain and its vessels, allowing assessment of the type of stroke.
MRI can tell the site and the extent of vessel blockage in ischemic stroke, or the site and extent of bleeding in hemorrhagic stroke. The images thus provide guides for selecting appropriate treatment options.

Our 24/7 Emergency MRI Service for Rapid Diagnosis of Acute Stroke:

At HKBSSP, we offer a comprehensive 24/7 emergency MRI service, which is accessible around the clock to deliver rapid and accurate diagnosis when stroke symptoms occur.
Prompt MRI diagnosis of a stroke enables timely and effective treatments within Golden Hours to salvage the brain so as to minimise long-term disabilities and to improve recovery outcomes.
Our clinic operates 24/7. With a dedicated team of nursing and medical specialists in neurosurgery and with the help of advanced MRI technology, we are providing emergency MRI stroke screening and compassionate care around the clock.
This 24/7 stroke service ensures stroke patients and their families have immediate access to expert care at any time of day.

Expert Medical Team

Our team consists of highly trained neurosurgery specialists who specialise in stroke care. They interpret MRI results swiftly, then provide medical opinions for options of immediate stroke treatments like medications, endovascular intervention or surgery.
Family Support and Education
Understanding a stroke can be overwhelming for patients and their families. We provide comprehensive support, including educational resources about stroke awareness, stroke symptoms, treatment options, and rehabilitation plans. Our compassionate staff is here to answer questions and guide families through this challenging time.
If you come across some stroke symptoms, call the emergency stroke hotline: 2367 6116

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