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Was Your Stroke Misdiagnosed?

A stroke occurs when blood cannot reach the brain due to blocked or constricted arteries (embolic strokes). It can also occur when a blood vessel ruptures, spilling blood into the brain tissue (hemorrhagic strokes). If not swiftly treated, brain cells will die from lack of oxygen, resulting in permanent damage.

As a leading cause of death, strokes should always be taken seriously.

The Narrow Window Of Opportunity For Treatment

Modern medicine has made great strides in detecting and treating strokes. Sophisticated imaging technology can identify blockages or ruptures, and medications or surgical procedures can help restore oxygen to the brain. There is often a narrow window of opportunity to administer potentially life-saving treatments – such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) for embolic or thrombotic strokes.

But none of these measures will do any good if the doctor negligently misdiagnoses the stroke as something else. Nor will they help if you get sent home despite a horrible headache and other troubling symptoms.

Five Ways That Strokes Are Commonly Misdiagnosed

The symptoms of strokes can sometimes be mistaken for other medical conditions such as:

  • Migraine headaches, which can cause aura and partial paralysis
  • Inner ear infections, which can cause dizziness
  • Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which can cause confusion, dizziness and headaches
  • Seizures, which can cause loss of consciousness and paralysis
  • Brain tumors or lesions, which can cause altered consciousness, loss of motor skills and paralysis

Stroke misdiagnosis is particularly prevalent among younger patients. Doctors are more likely to overlook strokes in patients who don’t fit the typical at-risk profile of an older adult with a history of high blood pressure, smoking, obesity or other health problems.

Unfortunately, by the time the correct diagnosis becomes apparent, it may be too late. Untreated strokes can rapidly lead to long-term disabilities and death.

Stroke Treatment Errors

Even if a stroke is properly diagnosed, improper treatment or follow-up care can jeopardize your recovery. For example, doctors may fail to properly monitor levels of blood-thinning medications such as Coumadin through “INR” (prothrombin time tests). Such an oversight can lead to further life-threatening complications.

Our Lawyers Devote Their Careers To Helping Patients Like You

At Breslin & Breslin, P.A., we understand the devastating toll of medical malpractice, particularly failure to diagnose/ misdiagnosis and improper treatment. Nothing is more difficult than knowing that your loved one could have been spared if he or she had received the right treatment.

We can help you identify your legal options for holding the negligent parties accountable. For more than 80 years, our firm has fought for people like you in the trenches of the courtroom. Our track record includes several multimillion-dollar recoveries. We will work diligently to help you obtain answers about what happened and full financial compensation.

Please contact our office in Hackensack, New Jersey, at 201-546-5881 or 866-986-2056 to get started with a free and confidential consultation. Our attorneys handle stroke misdiagnosis cases throughout Bergen County and beyond.

Proven Results Since 1936