This article appeared in the June 2021 issue of Discover magazine as "Spin Doctor." Subscribe for more stories like these.
The stately woman in the buttoned-up nightgown looked on as Iris, my second-year resident, related the history.
“Ms. Baker is a 60-year-old in good health,” she began. “Only takes a blood pressure pill. Early this morning, the room suddenly started spinning and she retched once. Denies headache, neck pain, arm or leg weakness or vision change. Says her face feels tingly on the left. On the physical exam, she drifted to the left when I had her walk.”
“Any tingling or numbness on the right arm or leg?” I asked.
“I didn’t ask,” Iris replied.
“Could be a Wallenberg,” I said.
She pursed her lips. “The actor?”
“Ha. Wallenberg, not Wahlberg. It’s a type of stroke. Lateral medullary infarct.” A stroke is caused by blockage or rupture of a blood ...
