March 12, 2025
“Hey Dr. K” – What Are the Signs I’m Having a Stroke?
Spring, TX March 12, 2025: In new a monthly You Tube video series, “Hey Dr. K!” Medical Director Doctor Jay Kovar answers community members’ questions regarding emergency health concerns. Dr. Kovar is not only the Medical Director at Harris County ESD 11, he also serves as medical director for PHI Air Medical Texas and holds the role of Medical Director for EMS Education programs at Lone Star CyFair/Montgomery since 2007. Dr. Kovar is a sought-after lecturer at local, state, national, and international Emergency Medicine and EMS symposiums, and has contributed to various journal articles.
Dr. Kovar explains stroke is best defined as an abrupt change in neurological function. Those functions can be changes in alertness, sensation or movement abilities. Changes in awareness, communication ability, vision or slurred speech, numbness, and balance problems are possible signs of an acute stroke. Causes of stroke range from blocked arteries due to clot formation or even a potential rupture of blood vessels to the brain. Certain kinds of stroke are painless and virtually unrecognizable to the person having the stroke.
“This is why it is so important for a person to call 911 immediately if they are experiencing symptoms of a stroke or suspect someone near them is, “says Dr. Kovar. “Stroke is one of the leading causes of the death in the United States and in the last 30 years major advancements have been made treating and even reversing the results of a stroke. But an assessment must be made as quickly as possible by medical professionals so they can determine the cause of the symptoms and connect the patient with the right resources.”
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About ESD 11 Mobile Healthcare
ESD 11 Mobile Healthcare covers a 177 square mile area of northern Harris County with over 700,000 residents, the largest Emergency Service District in the state of Texas. ESD 11 Mobile Healthcare receives over 65,000 call a year and consistently ranks among the best EMS services in the country for speed of response, patient satisfaction and quality of care. The Harris County Emergency Services District 11 Communication Center, known as Control, is recognized as an ACE Accredited Center of Excellence by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch. This prestigious designation highlights our commitment to excellence in emergency dispatch services. As an ACE-accredited agency, we enjoy increased visibility in community service, enhanced support in litigation and liability management, and improved recruitment and retention, affirming the value and impact of our team’s work.
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