Serene Branson Stroke Scare: What Is Reporter's Condition?

Serene Branson reports after the 2011 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Calif on Feb. 14, 2011.

/ KCBS

Update12:34 a.m.: The video of this incident is no longer available on YouTube

(CBS) Hours after experiencing an unsettling on-air inability to speak while covering the Grammys last night, Serene Branson is said to be feeling fine.

"Serene Branson was examined by paramedics on scene immediately after her broadcast," Branson's station, KCBS, said in a statement. "Her vital signs were normal. She was not hospitalized. As a precautionary measure, a colleague gave her a ride home and she says that she is feeling fine this morning."

The reassuring news comes as a surprise to some, given the worrisome nature of Branson's inability to articulate real words. She started her report by saying, "A very heavy blurtation tonight" before her speech devolved into complete gibberish.

"I am a little surprised," Dr. John Krakauer, associate professor of neurology and neuroscience at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, told CBS News. "Frankly, I would have admitted her."

Dr. Krakauer, who is not involved in Branson's care, said that Branson might have suffered a transient ischemic attack (TIA), a sort of "mini-stroke" that causes only transient problems. Some patients who are seen at a hospital for a TIA are allowed to go home without being admitted, he said. 

He said it was also possible that Branson had suffered a seizure or experienced a rare condition associated with migraine headaches.

But whatever happened to Branson, Dr. Krakauer said her problem should serve as a reminder that stroke can happen even to young people. In fact, he said, each year in the U.S. about 50,000 people under the age of 50 have a stroke.

In addition to sudden problems thinking of or saying words, symptoms of stroke include a drooping face, the loss of vision in one eye, or the loss of movement or sensation on one side of the body.

The American Heart Association offers more on the warning signs of stroke.

[carolNB60]

For me it's rather unsettling to view the video of Serene because the exact same thing happened to me - I was trying to talk but only gibberish came out...it lasted about 30 seconds and I simply assumed my neurons weren't connecting.

Two months later I was diagnosed with severe congestive heart failure (and a blood clot in the heart). Many months later when I mentioned this episode to my cardiologist it was confirmed as a TIA. It could be a warning sign, so please take good care of yourself Serene.

[carolNB60]

For me it's rather unsettling to view the video of Serene because the exact same thing happened to me - I was trying to talk but only gibberish came out...it lasted about 30 seconds and I simply assumed my neurons weren't connecting.

Two months later I was diagnosed with severe congestive heart failure (and a blood clot in the heart). Many months later when I mentioned this episode to my cardiologist it was confirmed as a TIA. It could be a warning sign, so please take good care of yourself Serene.

[BriannaBrix]

Hi my name is Brianna Brix. I'm 18 years old and have had the same thing happen to me since I was 12. The first time it happened I felt my arm go numb. I went downstairs to tell my parents and then my face started to droop and I started to slur my words. The rest of the night was filled with paralysis moving all over my body. The second time was the same year. I was getting ready for my families new years party when it started to happen again. This episode was much worse! This was one of the times I had the stroke. I couldn't speak at all. I was thinking I was saying words and all that came out was noises. I was so sick and so scared! It lasted all night. Since then I've had small episodes where only my arm or leg will go into paralysis. At the beginning of my senior year I was put in the hospital for a week because I had another one which ended up being the worst one I've ever had. I was driving home from play practice and I started getting a really bad headache and just felt like another episode was coming. So I pulled over on the side of the road and called my parents to come meet me. When my parents got there I felt even worse. They took me home and I got into bed fully clothed. My mom came in to check on me and I was to say the least out of it. It looked like I was on drugs and it was killing me. On the way to the hospital I became completely unconscious. When I got to the hospital the doctor of course took a drug test which of course was negative. They stuck me, jammed their finger into my chest, tried to make me gag, and tried to tickle me. Nothing worked I was completely unresponsive. The doctor told my mom to call my dad who was home with my little sister and tell him that he needs to come see me because they didn't think I was going to make it. Yea it was that bad. When I came to, my right leg and right arm were in paralysis. I also couldn't speak correctly. Again it was just noises. Another thing was that I had memory lapses every five minutes. My parents said all of the sudden I was looking around and started to cry because I didn't know what was going on or why I was in the hospital until I tried to speak and couldn't. This happened for three days. They ended up transporting me to another hospital where I spent the next four nights. It was the scariest thing that has ever happened to me personally. I have had case studies done on me but there is nothing to cure this. They say that I have things called hemiplegic migraines but they don't know how to fix it because every time I get checked out all my vitals and everything are normal. It's been a long hall for me. The scariest part is that you never know when its going to happen and if its going to be the one that kills you or causes damage. I really admire Serene Branson because I know that feeling well and I want to go into the same profession as her. She is amazing because she continued to do her news report. Most people don't understand what it's like to think you're saying one thing and something else is coming out! I couldn't imagine being on TV while this was happening. It's by far the worst feeling in the world. I would love to meet her and one day be on TV, news reporting just like her. Serene, your story is my motivation to keep pushing forward and to follow my dream which is to become a well known news reporter. You will never know how much your story has given me hope with all I've been through. One of my biggest fears is to not be able to go into my dream career because I have this happen and can't speak right permanently or worse, die. You inspire me! I'm sure you always have people trying to meet you and talk to you but it would truly be amazing if I could meet you. Thanks

[LizInPA]

Hi Brianna. I am sorry to hear that you have suffered so much at such a young age. I suffer from migraines with aura and the pain can be severe. I have been able to determine that my migraines are frequently triggered by food allergies. You might consider keeping a food diary to determine whether there is any pattern of foods you eat in association to your events. The bad effects of a food sensitivity/allergy are not always immediate and can sometimes take several hours to notice. There are some very common foods which trigger migraines for me - the most odd are pork, chicken and mangoes. I once loved these but have cut them from my diet and I am having far fewer migraines. I hope you are getting some instruction on how to handle stress in a healthy way because stress is a huge trigger as well. If not please consider it. I hope this helps in some way angel. Wishing you all of the very best and better days ahead!

[missdiddi618]

Dear Mitdgreenb,
Have you heard the news? Selena Branson had suffered a "complicated migraine." Thank God she is going to be ok! I assume her earpiece was working just fine, but hey, who knows?
If Selena's earpiece was causing echo or whatever it was that you had mentioned, don't you think she would have told the paramedics, or even the live audience? Apparently she is a seasoned news correspondent. Smh...
You asked me how I would feel if I had received blood thinners from a paramedic and in turn suffered from severe internal bleeding? Please, #1 Paramedics do NOT administer meds without a Drs. order, #2 They would need more factors indicating a stroke to even consider that administration, #3 I would be happy that they erred on the side of caution and took the chance of saving my life or attempting to prevent me from living a life with a permanent disability, posssibly being unable to speak, drooling out of my mouth uncontrollably, being unable to chew or swallow properly or having someone have to change my diaper, etc. #4 FYI-the anticoagulants administered after a suspected or MRI/CT confirmed stroke, is not enough to cause severe internal bleeding, unless one decides to play some tackle football or gets into some type of physically traumatic accident. You must be careful if you have received anticoagulants or even if you take any NSAIDS, including aspirin or ibuprofen #5 I never thought she had a stroke (however, it was a possibility), I was more inclined to assume she had a TIA or complicated migraine.#6 If my Drs. would have paid closer attention to me and my symptoms, I may not be sitting here awake in physical pain at 2:28am, due to a chronic, neurologic, disabling, and likely permanent pain condition. Goodnight and trust me-HOUSE is still awesome, but really, it's just a television show! Please for the health and safety of others,unlike House, you are definately NOT JUSTIFIED in jumping to any type of conclusion! GOODNIGHT:)

[katharine775]

This was terrible to watch - I had the very same thing happen to me a year ago. I am a healthy 39 year old female with no history of health problems. It was a stroke as a result of having a very common hole (like 1 in 4 people) in my heart that a small clot snuck through. I had my heart fixed (not open heart luckily) and now I am even better than I was before. One great side effect of this procedure is that if you are a migraine sufferer it CAN cure your migraines! I have not had a single one since. I hope that Serene has her heart looked at! Feel better soon!

[mary-miami]

Get Well Soon, Ms. Branson. Stress plays a big part in strokes. Reporters do a wonderful job of keeping us informed and if it werent for them we would have no idea of what is happening in our world. Thank You to all of them.

[LizInPA]

I hope this was just a one-time incident and doesn't have a lasting negative effect on her broadcast career or self confidence.
Back on the horse right away!

[Judaeus_Apella]

Well, something neurological definitely happened, but you know we're learning new things about the brain every day. The study and practice of neurology is still in its infancy, believe it or not. A child was recently born without a Cerebellum or a Pons, something no one thought was possible. No one knows how its even possible this child is walking, let alone actually alive. So unfortunately there's a great deal about the brain we just don't know. It could be simply a stroke, it could be a number of other things, we may never know what happened to her... or find out later after we make more strides in neurology.

[kcape]

I have had this happen to me many times. The first time it happened I was 14. It came with my migraine headaches. I'd get spots in my eyes, numbness to my hand and face, lost the ability to get words into any kind of coherent sentence (I knew what I wanted to say, but it wouldn't come out right). Extremely frustrating. It was so bad I would tell people that I was getting a migraine, and I wasn't going to be speaking until it was over. After all these pre-symptoms, then the excurtiating headache would set in. It is better now that I am older.

[babykittens]

I agree with comicsbabble..She certainly should not have been released & allowed to go home. She is at the age for these dreadful diseases to occur, TIA, MG, or even ALS. When a person suddenly slurs their speach, something is drastically wrong and should be definately checked out. Good luck Serene and God speed.