Artificial intelligence (AI) has come under scrutiny over potential negative impacts on society, but a Minnesota medical expert said it has become one of many tools that can improve outcomes for survivors of stroke.
May is American Stroke Month, and to raise awareness, voices within health care hope the public learns more about the warning signs and evolving technology in stroke treatment.
Dr. Haitham Hussein, associate professor of neurology at the University of Minnesota and board president of the Twin Cities chapter of the American Heart Association, said care systems have become more sophisticated with telemedicine spurring collaboration among specialists, and there is more.
“We use artificial intelligence for imaging analysis,” Hussein explained. “For example, one study (said) that using AI can differentiate the weakness of the face caused by stroke from the weakness of the face caused by Bell’s palsy.”
As for treatments, he said injections of a key medication are effective in reversing the effects of stroke before they settle. About one in four adults over the age of 25 will have a stroke in their lifetime. Hussein urged people to learn the warning signs, which include sudden weakness in an arm or leg on one side of the body, difficulty speaking, and droopiness in the face.
Hussein emphasized that when any of those signs appear, 911 should be called right away. He stressed there’s no time to waste.
“For every minute treatment of stroke is delayed, two million neurons are lost,” Hussein added.
Health experts noted having a stroke puts you at a higher risk for a second one. However, they added that working with your doctor and other specialists on managing risk factors can go a long way regarding prevention.
Hussein pointed out that in Minnesota, every resident is within 30 minutes of a hospital that can provide stroke care.
Mike Moen writes for the Minnesota News Connection.
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