Would You Know if You Were Having A Stroke?

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts.

Learn the Warning Signs of Stroke

When a stroke occurs and blood flow can’t reach the region of the brain that controls a particular body function, that part of the body won’t work as it should. So depending on where in the brain the stroke occurs, symptoms may include:

• 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 apparent cause
  
  

Gold Seal of Approval

Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen earned “Gold Seal of Approval” status for stroke care from a national accrediting organization, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.  Valley Baptist-Harlingen earned the national distinction after the Joint Commission conducted an on-site review.

The Joint Commission’s Primary Stroke Center Certification is based on the recommendations for primary stroke centers published by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association’s statements / guidelines for stroke care. Earlier this year, Valley Baptist’s Stroke Unit received “Recognition” status with the American Stroke Association -- becoming only the second hospital in the state of Texas to receive this award.

The Joint Commission launched the nation’s first stroke center certification program in 2003. A list of Joint Commission-certified programs across the country is available at www.jcaho.org.

5-Star Rated for Stroke Treatment

Today there are many effective treatments for stroke. For strokes caused by clots, clot-busting drugs such as TPA are the most promising. Valley Baptist is using TPA. However, it must be administered within 3 hours from the onset of symptoms and a CT scan shows no evidence of bleeding. Only about 5% of stroke victims reach the hospital in time to be considered for this treatment. For bleeding strokes, surgery to install a metal clip at the base of the aneurysm or to remove the abnormal blood vessels is possible, as is using a catheter to implant a “coil” to prevent rupture. Whatever the choice, you should know Valley Baptist is 5-star (top-rated) in stroke treatment by HealthGrades, a national healthcare quality ratings firm.

Dial 911 and Head to Valley Baptist

Knowing the warning signs and acting quickly greatly increases the chances of receiving effective treatment in time. To assure yourself of receiving effective stroke treatment, the best advice is to dial 911 immediately and head for the emergency room at Valley Baptist.