The University of North Texas football coach confirms that he suffered a stroke Sunday morning, shortly after his daily workout.
Dan McCarney told the Des Moines Register that he underwent more tests Tuesday at a Denton hospital.
He said his left side went numb.
McCarney told the newspaper doctors expect a full recovery with no permanent damage.
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel to the brain is either blocked by a clot or it bursts. When that happens, part of the brain can't get the oxygen it needs, so it starts to die.
Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. But the effects of stroke don't have to be deadly — or lasting.
Reports indicate that coach McCarney may have experienced a TIA, or transient ischemic attack. That's considered a "warning stroke" with stroke-like symptoms, but no lasting damage.
In many cases, doctors find no evidence of stroke — and sometimes no treatment is needed, even though the symptoms can be the same as a major stroke.
Symptoms of stroke include:
- sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body
- sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
- sudden loss of balance or coordination
- severe headache
E-mail jstjames@wfaa.com
