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What is a stroke?
Strokes occur when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients
to the brain bursts or is clogged by a blood clot or other particle.
When blood flow is interrupted, the brain is deprived of oxygen.
Nerve cells in the affected area die within minutes. This can
lead to dysfunction in the rest of the body because the brain
can no longer control those areas. These dead brain cells aren't
replaced, so the devastating effects of a stroke are often permanent.
It's important to get the best possible medical care immediately
if you suspect someone is having a stroke. The Hospital of Saint
Raphael Stroke Team is available 24 hours per day to provide
the most sophisticated care possible.
Saint Raphael's Stroke Team
Seconds count when your brain is under attack.
That's why a team springs into action when stroke patients arrive
in Saint Raphael's Emergency Department. The team includes everyone
from neuro-interventional radiologists to special nurses and therapists,
so patients receive complete, compassionate care to aid in their recovery.
Team members:
- Quickly determine how severe the stroke is
- Evaluate whether the patient can benefit can benefit from sophisticated
"clot-buster" drugs, which greatly improve the odds of recovery. These drugs
must be given within three hours of the first symptom of stroke, plus patients
must meet other health criteria.
- Initiate treatment based on each patient's individual circumstances
Stroke
warning signs and symptoms
Call 9-1-1 immediately if you notice any of the following
symptoms:
- Sudden numbness or weakness
of face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble
speaking or understanding
- Sudden trouble seeing in
one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness,
loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden
severe headaches with no known cause
Often strokes
are preceded by mini-strokes or transient ischemic attacks.
A person who has had a TIA is almost 10 times more likely to
have a stroke. TIA symptoms are similar to those of an actual
stroke, and should be treated with the same urgency: Dial 9-1-1.
Stroke
facts and figures
- Every
53 seconds, someone has a stroke
- Stroke
is responsible for 1 out of every 14.5 deaths annually
- 700,000
people suffer from a stroke nationally each year
- Every
3.3 minutes, someone dies from stroke
- The national
costs each year for strokes are estimated at $45.3 billion
Stroke
risk factors
- Older
people have a greater risk, but younger people also have strokes
- Men
have a higher risk than women
- A family
history of stroke increases your risk
- African
Americans have a much higher risk of death and disability
from stroke. Hispanics and Asian-Pacific Islanders also
have a greater risk.
- If
you've already had a stroke, your risk of having another
is greatly increased
- High
blood pressure increases risk
- Smoking
cigarettes increases risk. If you smoke cigarettes and take
birth control pills, your risk increases dramatically
- Diabetics
have a higher risk
- Heart
disease increases your risk
- Experiencing
a mini stroke or transient ischemic attack is a very important
risk factor.
Reduce your stroke risks by:
- Don't smoke
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Exercise regularly
Keep
your diet healthy and maintain good cholesterol levels
Control
your blood pressure
If you
are diabetic, maintain proper blood sugar levels
Other
stroke resources
For general information about stroke, call 1-888-4STROKE
The American Stroke Association's "Stroke Connection" program
provides resources and support to stroke survivors, their
families and caregivers. For information on life after stroke,
please call the Stroke Family "Warmline" at 1-800-553-6321.
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