Stroke Treatment at Phoebe
A stroke can change your life, but it doesn’t have to ruin it. In many cases, quick response and expert care can help a stroke victim survive the attack with minimal disability. If you or a loved one comes to us with a suspected stroke, our stroke team will take action, make a solid diagnosis and begin the appropriate treatment.
Our stroke team includes a full spectrum of advanced care providers from emergency medicine physicians, neurologists, and nurses who specialize in stroke care as well as interventional radiologists and neurosurgeons.
Know the Warning Signs
During a stroke, every minute counts and treatment is most effective when started right away. Do not ignore these warning signs, even if they go away.
Stroke is a serious medical emergency, and time can make a huge difference in your outcome.
Warning Signs of a stroke include:
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
- Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
- Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.
The BE FAST acronym - a simple way to remember warning signs.
- BALANCE LOSS: Ask the person if they have had any loss of balance. Warning sign – Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
- EYE SIGHT CHANGES: Ask the person if they have had any trouble with vision. Warning sign – Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
- FACE: Ask the person to smile. Warning sign – One side of the face does not move as well as the other.
- ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Warning sign – One arm does not move or one arm drifts.
- SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, such as “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Warning sign – Person slurs words or cannot speak.
- TERRIBLE HEADACHE AND TIME: Find out when the person was last observed well. Is the person experiencing a headache? If you observe any of these signs, it's time to call 911 immediately. Advantage – More advanced treatment options may be available if medical care is received within three hours of the start of symptoms.
If someone you know is experiencing any of these warning signs, call 911 immediately.
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