Stroke Services & Support

Stroke is a leading cause of adult disability and the third leading cause of death in the United States. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel bringing blood and oxygen to the brain gets blocked or ruptures so brain cells don’t get the flow of blood they need. When brain cells are damaged, the part of the body they control can’t function. Every stroke is different and dependant upon the area of the brain affected and the length of time the cells are without oxygen.

TIA or transient ischemic attack, is a “mini stroke” that occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery for a short time. The symptoms of a TIA are like the warning signs of a stroke but usually only last a few minutes. TIAs are strong predictors of stroke risk. Don’t ignore them, seek medical attention immediately!!!

The good news about stroke is that it is largely preventable. You can take steps to prevent stroke by reducing and controlling risk factors. Controllable risk factors include: high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol and physical inactivity.

In some cases a clot-busting drug can be administered to diminish the effects of a stroke. There is only a 3-hour window when this drug can be administered.

STROKE IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY CALL 911!! TIME IS BRAIN!!!!

Warning Signs:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the 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 headache with no known cause

Simple stroke test:  Think FAST

F- does the face look uneven (ask the person to smile)

A- does one arm drift down (ask the person to raise both arms)

S- does their speech sound strange (ask the person to repeat a simple phase for example:    “the sky is blue”

T- Time to call 911 if you observe any of these signs

The services at St. Elizabeth in stroke care extend from prevention to diagnosis to treatment to rehab. Services include risk assessment; collaboration with the EMS and the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Stroke Team for emergency treatment, dedicated inpatient stroke unit with specialized nursing staff and therapy services. St. Elizabeth has been recognized by the American Stroke Association for achieving the initial performance achievement award with Get with the Guidelines sm-Stroke. This award demonstrates our commitment to quality and excellence in stroke care.