A 50-year-old male with high cholesterol presents with sudden onset of right-sided weakness and slurred speech. What is the likely diagnosis, and what are the next steps?
The patient's symptoms suggest an acute stroke, possibly due to atherosclerosis associated with high cholesterol leading to thrombosis or embolism. This is a medical emergency. Immediate actions include a CT scan of the head to differentiate between ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, and potentially thrombolytic therapy if it's an ischemic stroke and there are no contraindications. Management of his cholesterol will be an important aspect of preventing future strokes.