Dr. Jessica Feldman

"Strokes are the third leading cause of death in women," says Jessica Feldman, MD, board-eligible neurologist at Central Montgomery Medical Center (CMMC).

But don't despair, because there is good news: Up to 80 percent of strokes are preventable by keeping blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose levels in check, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol intake and staying active.

What to Watch For At the first sign of a stroke, dial 911 or seek immediate medical treatment.The problem, Dr. Feldman says, is that the majority of women do not recognize stroke symptoms when they occur.

"Women might feel a sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the face, or in one arm or leg," she says."Blurred vision, dizziness, trouble speaking, sudden unexplainable headaches or loss of comprehension also can indicate a stroke."

Early diagnosis -- preferably within three hours of an attack or sooner -- enables emergency physicians to deliver timely, potentially life-saving treatment.

Early Intervention Can Help You "Intervention with tissue plasminogen activator [tPA], a clot-busting drug, may significantly reduce the deficit or disability that occurs as a result of the stroke," Dr. Feldman says."This therapy dissolves blood clots and reestablishes blood flow through arteries.This helps salvage brain tissue that, hopefully, has not been irreparably damaged."

While early intervention helps to minimize the effect of the stroke, many times people are still left with long-term side effects including paralysis, memory loss, vision or speech problems, and difficulty walking.

Photo of Jessica Feldman, MD
...
Jessica Feldman, MD

Photo of Jessica Feldman, MD
...
Jessica Feldman, MD

Jessica Feldman, MD Jessica Feldman, MD, recently joined Penn Neurologic Associates, PC.Dr. Feldman received a medical degree from Tulane University.She is a member of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Medical Women's Association, as well as the Philadelphia Medical Society.

"Over the past 10 years, there have been tremendous advances in the field of neurodiagnostics," says Jessica Feldman, MD, neurologist at Central Montgomery Medical Center (CMMC).
...
Photo of Jessica Feldman, MD
...
Jessica Feldman, MD