With a five-star rating from HealthGrades and designation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the Primary Stroke Center at Holy Name Hospital provides comprehensive services that quickly intervene to lessen the effects of a stroke, stabilize the patient, and then return him/her to everyday functioning.
Board-certified emergency medicine physicians and nurses certified in emergency care evaluate, assess, and monitor immediately all patients coming to Holy Name's award-winning Emergency Medicine Department with signs and symptoms of stroke. A standard diagnostic protocol of tests (including blood work, CT scan, and a blood pressure reading) is begun right away. If appropriate, a "clot-busting" medication called TPA is administered if the patient is within a three-hour window of the onset of experiencing symptoms. Other medications may also be given, as determined by the emergency medicine physicians.
Once patients are stabilized, they are admitted to the intensive care unit or Holy Name's designated stroke unit, where board-certified neurologists and specially-trained and certified nurses continue their medical care. If prescribed by their physicians, patients are evaluated for physical, occupational, speech, or swallowing therapy to improve functioning. Once patients are discharged from Holy Name, home care services are available to provide a smooth, seamless transition to recovery.
Stroke occurs when a blood vessel carrying oxygen to the brain suddenly bursts or becomes blocked. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States behind heart disease.
People of all ages and ethnic backgrounds have strokes, but certain risk factors make you even more susceptible. Your risk for stroke rises as you age, and it's higher if you have a family history if the disease. African-Americans are at a higher-than-average risk, and more men than women suffer strokes (until the senior years, when risks even out). If you've had a transient ischemic stroke (TIA), also called a "warning stroke," you're also more likely to suffer a full stroke.
You can act to reduce your chances of having a stroke by eating well (including lots of fruit and vegetables), exercising regularly, quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight and working with your doctor to manage conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, carotid artery disease and elevated blood levels of homocysteine, an amino acid.
Signs of a Stroke or Brain Attack:
- Sudden severe headache
- Visual disturbances: blurred vision or blindness
- Unconsciousness
- Paralysis or weakness
- Loss of bladder and bowel control
- Difficulty in speaking
- Drooping of one side of the face
If you experience any of these symptoms, seek emergency medical care immediately.
Stroke risks include:
- High blood pressure
- Inactivity
- Heart disease
- Obesity
- Cigarette smoking
- Excessive alcohol use
- High red blood cell count
- Drug abuse
- High cholesterol