Improvements in Stroke Care Bring More Options and Better Outcomes, says Intermountain Health

Nov 1, 2023

Worldwide, 1 in 4 persons will suffer a stroke. In the U.S., strokes are the 5th leading cause of death. But Intermountain Health experts say to BEFAST to save lives.

(PRUnderground) November 1st, 2023

World Stroke Day may have passed, but the risk of stroke hasn’t gone away.

During a stroke, part of the brain dies usually due to an abrupt cut-off of blood flow (ischemic stroke), or less commonly from a ruptured blood vessel.

Worldwide, 1 in 4 persons will suffer a stroke. In the U.S., strokes are the 5th leading cause of death. Utahns are rightfully proud of their many healthy habits, and yet even in Utah, several thousand suffer a stroke each year and in 2021, 853 Utahns died.

Common stroke symptoms include the sudden onset of weakness or numbness of one half of the body, the sudden onset of garbled speech, or sudden loss of vision on one side. Sudden, severe onset of imbalance and inability to walk may also be a symptom of stroke.

For any of these symptoms, people are strongly encouraged readers to call 9-1-1 immediately, so they can get immediate medical care. Luckily, through work of Utah stroke leaders, emergency medical systems are required to bring patients who might be having a stroke to the hospital best suited for their type of stroke.

In Utah, Intermountain Health and University of Utah Health offer some of the most advanced stroke care available and are implementing changes that will significantly improve the medications available for stroke treatment.

For many years, a strong blood clot dissolving medication known as Alteplase, first approved by the FDA in 1996, was the only medication available to halt ischemic strokes.

Based on multiple recent, large international studies, our hospital systems are jointly moving to replace Alteplase with a newer medication called Tenecteplase, according to Paul Johnson, MD, director of the Comprehensive Stroke Center at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray.

Tenecteplase can be administered more quickly and easily to stroke patients, with the potential for improved outcomes. Although Tenecteplase has been available for cardiac uses for some time, clear evidence shows its benefit in treating strokes and has provided a crystallized consensus around its use.

“Utahns in rural communities may especially benefit from the switch to Tenecteplase due to faster administration, which provides faster transport to designated stroke centers such as Intermountain Health or University of Utah,” said Dr. Johnson. “These centers provide additional advanced stroke therapies, specialized nursing units, and stroke-specific rehabilitation.”

Building networks to facilitate rapid stroke diagnosis, treatment, and patient transportation via video telehealth platforms, known as tele-stroke, has been a major achievement. The development and refinement of tele-stroke systems has dramatically improved stroke care across Utah, helping to reduce disparities of care seen by rural patients.

“Adopting more effective medicines such as Tenecteplase is just one of many innovations in stroke care in the past decade,” added Dr. Johnson. “Stroke neurologists now have a multitude of treatments and diagnostic tools to offer. Notable advances include the ability to extract blood clots from arteries in the brain through a minimally invasive procedure called a thrombectomy. This treatment can be combined with blood clot dissolving medications.”

Thrombectomies can be dramatically effective for patients who qualify. Recent data shows that thrombectomies are beneficial to patients with larger and later-onset stroke types.

Other recent changes to stroke care include the ability to use advanced brain imaging to select patients who can benefit from stroke therapies beyond the standard treatment “time window”. This includes quickly imaging the blood vessels in the head and neck – or evaluating blood flow within the brain itself.

Both Intermountain Health and the University of Utah now employ artificial intelligence programs to help neurologists evaluate these imaging studies and provide feedback on potential therapies. Employing these technological advances allows physicians to provide treatments to a much larger population of patients than was possible even a few years ago.

Such rapid changes in the science of stroke treatment are the direct result of active research around the world.

Utahns are able to access this cutting-edge research through UT StrokeNet, a collaborative clinical trials network funded by the National Institutes of Health, and locally led by the University of Utah with participant hospitals including Intermountain Health, Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, and the Veteran’s Affairs Salt Lake City Healthcare System.

UT StrokeNet has enrolled 366 patients in the last five years into prevention, treatment, and recovery studies, with 25% of patients living in rural or micropolitan areas.

“We’re proud of our institutions’ commitment to offering all eligible patients the most innovative treatments, regardless of where they live,” said Dr. Johnson. “These advances, including the 2023 transition across our healthcare systems to use Tenecteplase, have greatly improved the ability to treat patients who are having strokes in Utah and to reduce death and disability.

“However, the greatest benefits of the advanced care we have described lies in our ability to quickly restore blood flow to the brain, whether by blood clot dissolving medications or thrombectomy, to prevent irreversible brain injury. The faster we’re able to intervene on a stroke, the better our patients do long-term,” he adds.

About Intermountain Health

Headquartered in Utah with locations in seven states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 33 hospitals, 385 clinics, medical groups with some 3,900 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For more information or updates, see https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news.

The post Improvements in Stroke Care Bring More Options and Better Outcomes, says Intermountain Health first appeared on

Press Contact

Name: Jess Gomez Phone: (801) 718-8495 Email: Contact Us

Original Press Release.

More News

Hong Kong’s Chinese Culture Festival inspires sense of heritage and national pride
Oct 15, 2024
Hong Kong’s Chinese Culture Festival inspires sense of heritage and national pride

Four-month event featured music, dance, Chinese opera, multi-arts programmes, films, exhibitions, lectures, artist talks and masterclasses.

South Korean rapper Lil Cherry, aka Mukkbang Mama, on working with her brother Goldbuuda and how her song ‘Crying in da Club’ was partly inspired by Lucy Liu’s character in Charlie’s Angels
Oct 15, 2024
South Korean rapper Lil Cherry, aka Mukkbang Mama, on working with her brother Goldbuuda and how her song ‘Crying in da Club’ was partly inspired by Lucy Liu’s character in Charlie’s Angels

The poet-turned-rapper tells Style about seeing Flo Rida perform in high school, and how All Eggs in the Basket is not just the name of her upcoming release but a mantra for life.

K-pop band CNBlue reflects on their 14-year career and new mini-album X
Oct 15, 2024
K-pop band CNBlue reflects on their 14-year career and new mini-album X

CNBlue hit the big time in 2010 after their song Loner became a huge hit, and 14 years on, they talk about their career and new mini album X.

Americans, Share With Us The "Culture Shock" Moments You Had While Traveling To Another State
Oct 15, 2024
Americans, Share With Us The "Culture Shock" Moments You Had While Traveling To Another State

The Southern California mind (me) cannot comprehend the concept of a Vermont autumn... View Entire Post ›

Americans suing for right to buy Hermès Birkin bags add fraud, false advertising claims
Oct 15, 2024
Americans suing for right to buy Hermès Birkin bags add fraud, false advertising claims

Plaintiffs in antitrust case over Hermès limiting ability to buy coveted bags to customers who purchase other items amend their complaint.

Style Edit: Margot Robbie, the latest face of Chanel N°5, stars with Jacob Elordi in a short film inspired by the spirit of Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel
Oct 15, 2024
Style Edit: Margot Robbie, the latest face of Chanel N°5, stars with Jacob Elordi in a short film inspired by the spirit of Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel

A Chanel ambassador since 2018, Robbie succeeds the likes of Nicole Kidman, Catherine Deneuve and Marion Cotillard as the face of the iconic fragrance.

Tired of pumpkin spice? Here are meaningful ways to ring in the fall season in sunny L.A.
Oct 15, 2024
Tired of pumpkin spice? Here are meaningful ways to ring in the fall season in sunny L.A.

I went on a quest to find worthwhile fall rituals. Here's what I found.

Hong Kong Asian Film Festival 2024: 10 of the best movies to see, including The Last Dance
Oct 14, 2024
Hong Kong Asian Film Festival 2024: 10 of the best movies to see, including The Last Dance

This year’s programme includes a drama ripped from Hong Kong headlines, a social satire in a near-future Japan and a modern romantic drama.

Meet former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi’s youngest daughter Alexandra: the Emmy-nominated filmmaker is a prolific documentarian and describes herself as the ‘paparazzi of the family’
Oct 14, 2024
Meet former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi’s youngest daughter Alexandra: the Emmy-nominated filmmaker is a prolific documentarian and describes herself as the ‘paparazzi of the family’

The youngest Pelosi’s 2022 documentary, Pelosi in the House, includes recordings she made of the January 2021 US Capitol attack – footage that was later used during an investigation into the riots

Who is Talula Fyfe Dempsey, daughter of Patrick Dempsey from Grey’s Anatomy? She studied at Le Cordon Bleu and recently launched her LA-based patisserie, Talula’s Kitchen
Oct 14, 2024
Who is Talula Fyfe Dempsey, daughter of Patrick Dempsey from Grey’s Anatomy? She studied at Le Cordon Bleu and recently launched her LA-based patisserie, Talula’s Kitchen

Talula, 22, shares a close bond with her father and recently launched her LA-based patisserie Talula’s Kitchen after studying at Le Cordon Bleu

Fashion designers turn old car parts into clothing as part of a recycling revolution
Oct 14, 2024
Fashion designers turn old car parts into clothing as part of a recycling revolution

Resourceful fashion designers make clothes and accessories using everything from wheels to seat belts, as carmakers focus on material reuse.

Meet US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s ex, patent lawyer Kevin Noonan: the high school sweethearts married after college – he brought drugs to their wedding night – but divorced after 7 years
Oct 14, 2024
Meet US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s ex, patent lawyer Kevin Noonan: the high school sweethearts married after college – he brought drugs to their wedding night – but divorced after 7 years

After marrying young, Sotomayor’s long work hours and success took a toll on her marriage; she and Noonan divorced amicably and each went on to have a highly successful career in law.

Outrage as stunning New England hiking trails are hit by gridlock caused by huge influx of leaf-peepers
Oct 14, 2024
Outrage as stunning New England hiking trails are hit by gridlock caused by huge influx of leaf-peepers

Selfie-snapping tourists have overwhelmed New England's leaf-peeping hot spots, causing dangerous traffic jams and concerns over visitor safety.

The breathtaking Wild West landscape with a perfectly preserved ghost town that hardly anyone visits
Oct 14, 2024
The breathtaking Wild West landscape with a perfectly preserved ghost town that hardly anyone visits

Those looking for a hidden gem unspoiled by crowds should look no further than the Pawnee Buttes, a pair of 300-foot tall rock formations in the grassy plains of northern Colorado.

Nobel economics prize is awarded for research into how poor institutions affect countries' success
Oct 14, 2024
Nobel economics prize is awarded for research into how poor institutions affect countries' success

STOCKHOLM, OCTOBER 14The Nobel memorial prize in economics was awarded Monday to three economists who have studied why some countries are rich and others poor and have documented t...

Sleepy mountain town that's taking on glitzy Aspen as new skiing hotspot - where property is much cheaper
Oct 14, 2024
Sleepy mountain town that's taking on glitzy Aspen as new skiing hotspot - where property is much cheaper

A sleepy mountain town in Colorado could soon be a serious rival to its more glamorous neighbor Aspen - where property prices are around 50 percent more expensive.

Knead a break? You can now stay in a cottage on the iconic 'Hovis Hill' in Dorset
Oct 14, 2024
Knead a break? You can now stay in a cottage on the iconic 'Hovis Hill' in Dorset

The property is located on the lane made famous by breadmaker Hovis's 1973 'Boy on Bike' commercial. The cobbled street is actually called Gold Hill and curves through Shaftesbury, Dorset.

Hands off the Doliprane: French outcry over plan to sell popular painkiller to US
Oct 14, 2024
Hands off the Doliprane: French outcry over plan to sell popular painkiller to US

Politicians from across the political spectrum are up in arms over healthcare giant Sanofi's plans to sell France's best-known medical drug Doliprane to US investors, a move critics say would lead to a "loss of sovereignty" for the country in a sensitive industry.

Revealed: THESE are the cheapest two days before the end of the year to book a family trip with Airbnb
Oct 14, 2024
Revealed: THESE are the cheapest two days before the end of the year to book a family trip with Airbnb

Airbnb's general manager for northern Europe and mother of two, Amanda Cupples, says: 'Budget is a top priority for parents, with over a third admitting it's their primary concern when planning a trip.'

A French Immersion Program in Provence Leads to a Good Life Lesson
Oct 14, 2024
A French Immersion Program in Provence Leads to a Good Life Lesson

After a painful breakup, the author travels to Provence for a language immersion homestay and learns the value of facing up to mistakes.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Over 360 thousand people diagnosed yearly
Oct 14, 2024
Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Over 360 thousand people diagnosed yearly

This year alone more than 360 thousand people will be diagnosed with breast cancer ... while many will die of it without being diagnosed at all. And yet if it is detected early, the 5-year relative survival rate of breast cancer stands at an incredible 99 percent. This month is Breast Cancer Awareness month and we talk to oncologist Dr. Ines Vaz Luis to discuss the progress in fighting the disease and what more can be done.

Disney+ K-drama The Judge from Hell midseason recap: Park Shin-hye’s unholy resolve wavers
Oct 14, 2024
Disney+ K-drama The Judge from Hell midseason recap: Park Shin-hye’s unholy resolve wavers

As demon Kang Bit-na, Park Shin-hye struggles to control her body and emotions in The Judge from Hell as she sends murderers’ souls to hell.

Who is Brantley Gilbert’s wife, Amber Cochran Gilbert – who just went into labour mid concert? The former teacher first dated the country singer at school, loves to cook, and helped him get sober
Oct 14, 2024
Who is Brantley Gilbert’s wife, Amber Cochran Gilbert – who just went into labour mid concert? The former teacher first dated the country singer at school, loves to cook, and helped him get sober

Brantley Gilbert says he just had the ‘craziest night’ of his life after his wife Amber Cochran Gilbert went into labour during his show in Mississippi – so who is his wife of 9 years?

Inside the world's first PRIVATE space station: Haven-1 features queen-size beds, a state-of-the-art gym, and maple wood interiors - and it's set to launch next year
Oct 14, 2024
Inside the world's first PRIVATE space station: Haven-1 features queen-size beds, a state-of-the-art gym, and maple wood interiors - and it's set to launch next year

Dubbed Haven-1, the space station is much more modern and spacious than the ISS, with queen-size beds, a state-of-the-art gym, and maple wood interiors.

Holiday prices in the weeks either side of school half terms will surge, expert warns
Oct 14, 2024
Holiday prices in the weeks either side of school half terms will surge, expert warns

Last month, the Government introduced rules to deter parents from taking their children out of school for holidays and other unauthorised absences.

6 winter resorts off the beaten track, from inland Portugal to wilderness Oregon
Oct 14, 2024
6 winter resorts off the beaten track, from inland Portugal to wilderness Oregon

Winter resorts away from the crowds that should be on your radar, from a beachside hideaway in the Bahamas to an upscale Red Sea retreat.

This 71-year-old pole dancer defies expectations — and gravity — in age-obsessed L.A.
Oct 14, 2024
This 71-year-old pole dancer defies expectations — and gravity — in age-obsessed L.A.

Mary Serritella started pole dancing at 57. Fourteen years later she's inspiring others who are decades her junior.

Who is Kiss rocker Gene Simmons’ wife Shannon Tweed? The ex Playboy model is a Taylor Swift fan, dated Hugh Hefner, and was in a relationship with the DWTS judge for 28 years before tying the knot
Oct 14, 2024
Who is Kiss rocker Gene Simmons’ wife Shannon Tweed? The ex Playboy model is a Taylor Swift fan, dated Hugh Hefner, and was in a relationship with the DWTS judge for 28 years before tying the knot

Gene Simmons has been accused of making inappropriate comments about the female dancers on Dancing with the Stars of late, so who is his former Playboy Bunny wife Shannon Tweed?

She makes wigs like they're armor. There's a sweetness with a bite
Oct 14, 2024
She makes wigs like they're armor. There's a sweetness with a bite

Artist Tanya "Nena" Melendez on making her original hairpieces.

Meet Raheem Mostert’s wife Devon, who called Kamala Harris ‘garbage’. The Miami Dolphins star’s partner of 7 years is getting backlash online after weighing in to back Republican governor Ron DeSantis
Oct 14, 2024
Meet Raheem Mostert’s wife Devon, who called Kamala Harris ‘garbage’. The Miami Dolphins star’s partner of 7 years is getting backlash online after weighing in to back Republican governor Ron DeSantis

Raheem Mostert’s wife says she’s receiving hateful and racist comments on Instagram after supporting Ron DeSantis after he was blasted by Kamala Harris last week.

Who is Halle Berry’s ‘sex addict’ ex-husband Eric Benét – and what did she just call him out for? The R&B singer went to rehab for ‘sex addiction’ and is now married to Prince’s ex-wife Manuela Testolini
Oct 14, 2024
Who is Halle Berry’s ‘sex addict’ ex-husband Eric Benét – and what did she just call him out for? The R&B singer went to rehab for ‘sex addiction’ and is now married to Prince’s ex-wife Manuela Testolini

Halle Berry just revealed on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast she’s sceptical her ex-husband Eric Benét ever struggled with sex addiction while they were together.

Netflix K-drama A Virtuous Business: Kim So-yeon plays adult-toys seller in rural Korea
Oct 14, 2024
Netflix K-drama A Virtuous Business: Kim So-yeon plays adult-toys seller in rural Korea

This 1990s-set drama sees a group of women begin selling racy lingerie and adult toys door to door, shaking up their quiet rural town.

Unravelling the mystery of the Black Shuck: Experts reveal the truth behind the demon dog of East Anglia - as Charlie Cooper attempts to catch the beast on camera
Oct 14, 2024
Unravelling the mystery of the Black Shuck: Experts reveal the truth behind the demon dog of East Anglia - as Charlie Cooper attempts to catch the beast on camera

It's one of the most terrifying mythical creatures in history - a huge black dog with 'hellish' red eyes that haunts East Anglia. But does the 'Black Shuck' really exist?

Shenzhen exhibition shows how artists who have left Hong Kong think of their city today
Oct 14, 2024
Shenzhen exhibition shows how artists who have left Hong Kong think of their city today

Human desires, the comfort of family and friends, a sense of displacement among ideas conveyed by art on show at Shenzhen’s Mangrove Gallery.

Internet-famous bookstore offers a futuristic reading space
Oct 14, 2024
Internet-famous bookstore offers a futuristic reading space

Walking into Dujiangyan Zhongshuge is like traveling to a magical world thanks to its fascinating architectural style.

Mystery 'doughy' white blobs are washing up on the coastline and no one seems to know what they are
Oct 14, 2024
Mystery 'doughy' white blobs are washing up on the coastline and no one seems to know what they are

Mysterious white blobs have been washing up on beaches across Newfoundland for over a month, sparking an investigation by Canadian authorities.

US$1.5m plastic replica Iron Throne the top lot in US$21m Game of Thrones-themed auction
Oct 14, 2024
US$1.5m plastic replica Iron Throne the top lot in US$21m Game of Thrones-themed auction

Replica throne from HBO series among more than 30 lots that sold for in excess of US$100,000 at three-day auction in Dallas, Texas.

Nature's masterpiece on Qiantang River in east China
Oct 14, 2024
Nature's masterpiece on Qiantang River in east China

These unique formations, shaped by the ebb and flow of the tides, are a stunning sight set against the backdrop of autumn. Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province comes alive with one of nature's most captivating artworks – the "tidal trees" of the Qiantang River.

Eurostar unveils brand-new first-class menu, featuring food by British two-Michelin-star chef Jeremy Chan and a former 'world's best pastry chef'. Here's what's in store onboard...
Oct 14, 2024
Eurostar unveils brand-new first-class menu, featuring food by British two-Michelin-star chef Jeremy Chan and a former 'world's best pastry chef'. Here's what's in store onboard...

Jeremy's restaurant, Ikoyi, on the Strand in London, is ranked the 42nd best eaterie in the world. Jeremy told MailOnline at the menu launch: 'All the flavour combinations - it's all on me.'

YOUR NEWS, OUR NETWORK.

Do you have Great News you want to tell the world?

Be it updates about your business or your community, you can make sure that it’s heard by submitting your story to our network reaching hundreds of news sites across 6 verticals.

Daily Travelogue

In Daily Travelogue, we aim to provide rich content for the budget traveler. We only publish blog post that is informative and entertaining to add value to our readers’ user experience.

Newsletter