Stroke Treatment
Stroke Treatment
A stroke is an emergency requiring immediate medical attention. Strokes happen when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, causing brain cells to begin dying from lack of oxygenated blood. If you suspect a stroke, call 911.
What is Stroke?
There are two major kinds of stroke:
- Ischemic Stroke - The most common, is caused by a blood clot that blocks or plugs a blood vessel or artery in the brain. This clot causes a region of the brain to be deprived of oxygen and essential nutrients, leading to death of brain cells.
- Hemorrhagic Stroke - This type of stroke is caused by a blood vessel breaking and bleeding into the brain. Two types of weakened blood vessels that typically cause hemorrhagic stroke are aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).
- Brain Aneurysms - A brain aneurysm occurs when a blood vessel develops a weak area in the wall that allows the vessel to balloon out and fill with blood.
- Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) - AVMs happen when a group of blood vessels in your body forms incorrectly. In these malformations, arteries and veins are unusually tangled.
Stroke Signs and Symptoms
- A sudden, severe headache
- Seizures
- Loss of sensation in part of the body
- Muscle weakness
- Changes in vision
- Facial paralysis
- Drooping eyelids
- Problems speaking
- Changes in a sense of smell
- Problems with motion
- Dizziness
- Loss of consciousness
If you experience any of the stroke signs, or identify the signs in someone else, B.E. F.A.S.T. and dial 911. Use the National Stroke Association’s B.E. F.A.S.T. test to help you remember the warning signs and symptoms of stroke:
- Balance - Balance loss – Check to see if the person has trouble walking or standing up right
- Eyesight - Eyesight loss – Is the person experiencing loss of eyesight?
- Face - Facial weakness - Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
- Arms - Arm weakness - Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
- Speech - Speech problems - Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred? Can the patient repeat the sentence correctly?
- Time - If a person is having trouble with these basic commands, call 911 immediately.
B.E. F.A.S.T. to help you remember the signs.
Even if these signs or symptoms fluctuate or disappear, you should still call 911 immediately.
Awards & Recognitions
Bartlett Campus
- Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
- Advanced Primary Stroke Center – The Joint Commission
Memphis Campus
- Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
- Advanced Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Ctr – The Joint Commission