Stroke Care
Every second counts when you have a stroke. When a vessel carrying blood to the brain becomes blocked or bursts, the brain is deprived of the essential oxygen and nutrients it needs to survive. We provide stroke care from the emergency department through treatment and rehabilitation.
Our Approach
Rapid-response stroke care begins with specially trained EMS personnel who provide immediate transport for treatment and evaluate stroke victims. Upon arrival at CHRISTUS St. Michael, the emergency department physicians and stroke-trained response team provide accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment for stroke patients.
The Primary Stroke Center at CHRISTUS St. Michael includes:
- Acute Stroke Response Team, available 24/7, that can promptly administer the clot-busting drug, TPA (Tissue Plasminogen Activator).
- Dedicated stroke certified staff and high-acuity clinical and technical monitoring of the stroke patient.
- Teleneurology available to bring neurology expertise directly into the CHRISTUS St. Michael emergency room.
- Rehabilitation services providing quality, compassionate care designed to help patients quickly recover.
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Support
The National Stroke Association recognizes that participating in a support group is a very important part of stroke recovery. Please join our local stroke support group to help continue you or your loved one's recovery from stroke, and make your circle of friends even bigger than before!
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If This Is a Medical Emergency, Please Dial 911
Treatments and Education
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Cardiac Rehabilitation
Cardiac Rehabilitation is ideal for those who have experienced a heart attack, have had heart surgery, have had a heart-related procedure such as a cardiac stent or angioplasty, chest pain or congestive heart failure. It is designed to help patients recover from their heart procedure, increase their physical activity, and provide education and counseling to help the patients reduce their cardiac risks.
Our Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation Teams are comprised of a number of healthcare professionals including a physician, nurse, exercise physiologist, respiratory therapist and a dietitian. Each member of our healthcare team is here to help the patient achieve his/her optimal level of health and fitness. Learn more about our rehabilitation.
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Signs and Symptoms of Stroke
FAST
If you think you are having a stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately. A stroke is an emergency. Knowing the telltale signs of stroke could save your life or the life of someone you care about. Remember to act FAST and be aware of:
F - Face Drooping
Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?
A - Arm Weakness
Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S - Speech Difficulty
Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "The sky is blue." Is the sentence repeated correctly?
T - Time to call 9-1-1
If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared.
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Stroke: Myths and Facts
It is a fact that stroke is becoming more common in the United States — recent stroke statistics reveal that close to 3 percent of the population has had one. But despite the frequency of stroke, there are still many misconceptions surrounding it. There is a lack of education to the public regarding stroke awareness. Many people have no understanding of what puts a person at risk for stroke.
Most do not know that there are two kinds of stroke - ischemic and hemorrhagic. Nearly 90 percent of the strokes that take place in the United States are ischemic strokes, which occur as a result of a blockage (usually a clot) in a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a weakened blood vessel ruptures.
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What is a Stroke?
Brain Attack
On average, someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds and someone dies of a stroke every 3.1 minutes. However, most strokes are preventable and many are treatable. Time is of the essence when strokes occur. Once stroke occurs, the goal is to minimize potential damage.
The American Stroke Association states that a stroke or "brain attack" occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery (a blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the body) or a blood vessel (a tube through which the blood moves through the body) breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain. When either of these things happens, brain cells begin to die and brain damage occurs.
Learn if you are at risk for having a stroke
Having a stroke is a life-altering event no one knows how to handle until it is too late. You can estimate your personal risk of having a stroke as well as identify certain risk factors by taking our free online health risk assessment. Give it a try today.