GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Doctors at Spectrum Health have treated over double the amount of stroke patients so far this year.
The hospital is looking into any connections this may have to COVID-19
"There is some suggestion that COVID can create an inflammatory process within the body that may also make the blood more sticky or more prone to clotting that might increase patients increase risk for strokes." Doctor Justin Singer, Director of Vascular Neurosurgery at Spectrum Health told FOX 17. "And that may be one reason hospitals like ours might be seeing an increase in trend of strokes overall."
In a three week span, the hospital did 18 procedures to remove clots in patients, whereas last year they only did 6.
They are prepared to treat all patients with stroke symptoms, not just those with COVID-19 and say if you believe you are having a stroke, call 911 and get to the nearest hospital.
