What is a pontine stroke?
Heart Health, Neurology
It’s important to know the warning signs of stroke and BEFAST seeking medical treatment
She was busy. She had a lot going on earning her doctorate and wasn’t paying attention to her health. Besides, she was a vegan and didn’t think she could be any healthier.
Unfortunately, Donna Brock was wrong. What the Savannah resident and St. Mary’s Community Center volunteer didn’t realize was she was unintentionally ignoring her out of control blood pressure. 
On Dec. 1, 2021, Donna suffered a pontine stroke that resulted in a trip to the emergency room, five weeks in inpatient rehab at St. Joseph’s Hospital and months of outpatient therapy.
“We all have some sense of our own immortality, but I never thought it would happen to me,” Donna says. “I should have been more vigilant.”
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What is a pontine stroke?
Strokes happen when the brain doesn’t get enough blood, either because an artery burst or a blood clot or plaque buildup blocks blood flow to the brain, explains Cristen Wood, St. Joseph’s/Candler Stroke Program coordinator.
A pontine stroke is a highly localized type of stroke that occurs within the pons region along the brainstem. Pons regulate many automatic functions that we don’t think about, such as breathing, swallowing and your heart rhythm, Wood says.
The No. 1 risk factor for a pontine stroke, as well as other types of stroke, is high blood pressure. Other causes can include:
- High cholesterol
- Poor diet
- Unhealthy weight
- Cardiovascular disease
- Smoking
- Sedentary lifestyle
“When people ask, ‘What can I do to prevent a stoke,’ I always encourage the Mediterranean diet, stop smoking, control your blood pressure and exercise at least 30 minutes a day, three times a week. Exercise can be anything that gets you breathing heavier and your heart beating faster,” Wood says. 
Looking for heart healthy recipes? Wood recommends the American Heart Association’s website.
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What should you look for?
It’s important to know the warning signs of any type of stroke and BEFAST. That stands for:
B – balance
E – eyes
F – face
A – arms
S – speech
T – time, or terrible headache
If you experience any of these symptoms suddenly, you should seek medical attention immediately. Even if they dissipate, that could be a transit ischemic attack, which is a warning sign for an oncoming stroke.
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“If you think you are having a stroke and have those sudden onset symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. Time is very important,” Wood says.
How do you treat this type of stroke?
Treating a pontine stroke can vary from patient to patient because it all depends on the symptoms that result from the stroke. Some of the resulting side effects of a pontine stroke include trouble walking, swallowing or talking.
“Pontine strokes are interesting because the symptoms are so varied,” Wood says. “Some people can do very well and some don’t recover as well.”
At St. Joseph’s/Candler, if you come in having a stroke, your healthcare team will develop an individualized plan for your recovery, Wood says. That plan will be determined based on the main factor that lead to the stroke, as well as the lingering side effects. Most likely, it will include physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech therapy, and oftentimes, all three.
“It’s important to have a very good rehab center, a good rehab team to push that recovery process,” Wood says.
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Be your own health advocate
Donna Brock is doing much better following her pontine stroke and spends four days a week volunteering at St. Mary’s Community Center. It’s her way of giving back to St. Joseph’s/Candler and the community. She encourages everyone to be their own health advocate.
“I would tell people, especially people of color, African-Americans, it’s important to be vigilant about your health,” Donna says. “You owe that to yourself. Don’t pursue only jobs, titles and status. Everyone also has to prioritize self-care. In order to be a whole person, I think you need to satisfy what is meaningful to you.”