Neurology

Common neurological conditions include:

• Strokes
• Seizures
• Neuropathies
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Cervical and Lumbar Radiculopathies
• Muscle Disease
• ALS
• Myasthenia Gravis
• Migraines

There are two main types of strokes. An ischemic stroke is when a clot or plaque blocks the blood flow and thus oxygen to the brain. A hemorrhagic stroke happens when an area of a vessel weakens and eventually bursts, causing blood to drain into the surrounding tissue.

On the first Wednesday of every month, stroke survivors, their caregivers and their family members meet for our Stroke Support Group. Here they share personal experiences, coping strategies and more with those who best know what they’re going through.

What is an Anticoagulant?

Anticoagulants are medicines that act on the blood so that clots do not form. These medications are important because they prevent serious medical problems including stroke, heart attack, or problems in the legs or lungs. Medications that anticoagulated the blood come in various forms. Some are given as an injection under the skin, while others are given as an oral tablet.

Examples of Anticoagulant Medications Include:

Injections

• Arixtra (Fondaparinux)
• Lovenox (Enoxaparin)
• Heparin

Oral Tablets

• Coumadin (Warfarin or Jantoven)
• Pradaxa (Rivaroxaban)
• Eliquis (Apixaban)
• Savaysa (Edoxaban)

Warfarin was the first oral tablet available for use to anticoagulate blood. It is considered as the “blood standard.”

Patients on Warfarin have to get blood tests regularly. This test is called Protime/International Normalized Ratio (PT/INR). The results of this test determine the amount of Warfarin required to prevent blood clots.

Patients taking Warfarin should know how to use Warfarin safely.

An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test for patients who may have experienced neurological issues, such as seizure activity. It provides vital information about the brain and its electrical activity by distinguishing seizures from other causes of symptoms.