For patients who have migraine and other headache disorders, the difficulties getting treatment are well known. Headache specialists aren’t plentiful, and patients in rural areas may need to drive hours to see a provider. Sometimes, it just may seem easier to grit through the pain, but that’s changing. Online migraine treatment through platforms like Norton…
When Emily Carr began experiencing a baffling array of symptoms — pain when she stood up, dizziness when she leaned over, severe migraines and memory loss — she thought it could be a brain tumor. A trip to her primary care doctor and then an ear, nose and throat specialist didn’t bring a diagnosis. Six…
Snoring loudly is a telltale sign of obstructive sleep apnea and a warning you may face a higher risk of stroke. Sleep apnea more than doubles the risk of stroke for middle-aged and older men and also increases the stroke risk in middle-aged and older women. “Sleep apnea is a common but under recognized risk…
Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in March, Norton Healthcare has received 26% fewer stroke cases — a trend that worsened in May — raising concerns among health care providers that more patients in the Louisville area are risking debilitating brain injury. The concern is that some are experiencing mini strokes with symptoms that…
Renato V. LaRocca, M.D., values the opportunity to be at the forefront of brain cancer research. As a neuro-oncologist and cancer medicine specialist with Norton Cancer Institute, Dr. LaRocca has treated many cases of glioblastoma. He is grateful to have been part of a clinical trial to assess the effectiveness of a novel immunotherapy vaccine…
Knowing what to do if someone is having a stroke can have a lasting impact on their recovery. The greatest chance for recovery from stroke occurs when emergency treatment is started immediately. “Stroke treatments are advancing rapidly, but they all have one thing in common: The sooner we can administer treatment, the better the patient’s…
Esta publicación también está disponible en español. During a visit to the Norton Brownsboro Hospital emergency department one recent afternoon, a man was brought in two days after he first started noticing stroke symptoms. “He’s in the right place now,” a nurse said, reassuring the woman who dropped him off. He was wheeled to the…
Symptoms of MS in women can be different and MS affects women more than men. Researchers are not entirely sure why MS is different in women — it could be hormonal differences, genetic makeup or differences in the immune system. With MS generally, the immune system attacks the protective coating (myelin) on nerves. Without myelin,…
COVID-19 may have certain implications for people who take common medications prescribed for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Here’s a breakdown of some MS drugs and the related implications from COVID-19 (before changing their MS treatments, patients should contact their MS specialist). Cell-depleting drugs that increase risk of severe infection Alemtuzumab (Lemtrada) Cladribine (Mavenclad) Ocrelizumab…
Rock star Ozzy Osbourne has revealed he has Parkinson’s disease. The 71-year-old Black Sabbath singer told “Good Morning America” he found out about his condition after experiencing a fall last year. Parkinson’s disease is an incurable movement disorder that worsens over time. Symptoms include tremors of the hands, arms, legs and face; stiffness in the…
In addition to the seizures that come with epilepsy, living with the condition can mean other day-to-day challenges. Stigma can lead some individuals with epilepsy to be uncomfortable spending significant time in public. Anxiety can come from not knowing if strangers know how to help during a seizure. Going to school, work or even the…
Crystal Narcisse, M.D., did not think twice about taking off her new tennis shoes and giving them to the patient in front of her, whose own shoes were falling apart. Rain was pouring on the brisk day in February 2019, and Dr. Narcisse, an internal medicine physician and pediatrician at Norton Community Medical Associates –…