Stroke and Aneurysm Care

Symptoms of a stroke can develop suddenly or over a few hours or days. The signs of a stroke can vary depending on the type of stroke and where it’s located in your brain.

With any stroke, it’s important to act as quickly as possible. Call 911 immediately if you notice any of the warning signs of a stroke, including:

• Loss of balance or coordination, trouble walking or dizziness
• Numbness or weakness in the face, legs or arms (particularly on one side of the body)
• Sudden confusion, or trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden severe headache without a known cause
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes

Knowing the acronym B.E. F.A.S.T. can help you spring into action to help save a loved one’s life if you suspect they’re having a stroke.
B.E. F.A.S.T. stands for the common stroke symptoms of:

Balance: sudden problems with balance or coordination
Eyes: sudden blurred or double vision or sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes
Face: the mouth droops down on one side
Arm: one arm drifts downward when both arms are extended
Speech: speech is slurred, absent or abnormal
Time: call 911 immediately if you observe any of these signs

About 15% of strokes are preceded by a transient ischemic attack (TIA), a mini stroke that lasts only a few minutes. It’s typically a precursor to a major stroke.

Response time is key when a stroke happens. Our extensive network of stroke specialists uses the latest resources to help minimize the time it takes to start treatment and maximize your chances for recovery. This includes ambulances equipped with televideo technology to assess a patient’s condition in 15 minutes or less and get you clot-busting medication, called tPA, before you’ve even reached the hospital.

Recover and regain your confidence with our comprehensive stroke rehabilitation care. You’ll benefit from both on-site and outpatient services, along with care from a highly skilled and certified team of physical, occupational and speech therapists who are dedicated to helping you heal in body, mind and spirit.

Together we’ll create a therapy plan focused on regaining strength and functionality with focus areas like:

• Daily activities, such as eating, bathing and dressing
• Memory and problem-solving skills
• Mental health
• Mobility
• Social skills
• Speech and language

Your goal is to get back to everyday life. We can help. Our unique wellness programs include one-on-one therapy sessions and give you access to the latest equipment and stroke research. You can choose from individual or group training sessions, all led by experienced exercise physiologists who can help you meet the challenges of recovery.

Stroke has several common risk factors, many of which can be avoided through lifestyle changes:

• Diabetes
• High Blood Pressure
• High Cholesterol
• Tobacco Use

For women, there are some additional risk factors, including:

• Atrial Fibrillation
• Birth Control Pills
• Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
• Migraines
• Preeclampsia
• Pregnancy

While some risk factors are preventable, others like age, gender and family history are beyond your control. Schedule regular checkups and talk to your doctor about your health care plan. Together, you can spot pre-conditions that might help you act now to prevent a stroke down the road.