Bethesda Stroke Center: Because Every Second Matters
What is a Stroke?
A stroke, or brain attack, happens when an artery carrying blood to part of the brain breaks or becomes clogged. When a stroke occurs, the part of the brain that was fed by the artery can die. Sometimes brain cells that are near the injured cells also begin to swell and stop working. Other common terms for a stroke include cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA).
The Bethesda Stroke Center is dedicated to helping patients and their families better understand strokes, advancements in treatment and the steps that can be taken to prevent stroke. As Palm Beach County’s first Certified Primary Stroke Center, as designated by The Joint Commission, the Bethesda Stroke Center provides a dedicated team of healthcare professionals who are working to ensure that our patients with stroke receive the most comprehensive level of care and rehabilitation. Together with the Cornell Institute for Rehabilitation Medicine, the Bethesda Stroke Center provides a comprehensive range of treatment options to help patients achieve their full potential.
Know the Warning Signs and Symptoms of Stroke
According to the National Institutes of Health, 42% of stroke patients wait as long as 24 hours before going to the Emergency Room. This delay places the
brain at increased risk for injury.
If you or someone you know experiences any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately. When strokes are diagnosed and treated early, disabling effects
can often be prevented thanks to advances in new drug therapies.
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding;
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes;
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness;
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause;
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body;
- Sudden fainting, convulsions or coma (person will not wake up).
Are you or someone you know at risk?
Stroke is the third leading cause of death following heart disease and cancer with nearly
600,000 new stroke cases diagnosed every year, and three million people having some disability from stroke. Despite these alarming statistics, more than 80 percent of all strokes
can be prevented, according to the National Stroke Association.
Although some risk factors for stroke such as age, gender, race and family history of stroke are beyond your control, certain lifestyle changes can dramatically
reduce the risk of stroke. The following affect your likelihood of having a stroke:
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol
- Smoking
- Having more than two alcoholic beverages a day
The Bethesda Stroke Care Team
In the event that you or a loved one experiences a stroke, the Bethesda Stroke Center is ready for your arrival. Unlike other hospital emergency rooms, the
Bethesda Stroke Center is fully prepared to care for stroke patients around the clock, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.
Bethesda’s Stroke Center team is comprised of emergency physicians, radiologists,
specially trained nurses and licensed therapists who are dedicated to providing the area’s most comprehensive stroke care.
Within moments of arrival to Bethesda’s Stroke Center, the patient will receive a diagnostic evaluation with a computed tomography (CT) scan, followed by a complete medical and neurological exam, an electrocardiogram, lab and blood work. Therapists will perform a functional assessment shortly thereafter to determine the patient’s course of treatment.
Tissue Plasminogen Activator (t-PA)
One of the treatments that stroke patients may receive is tissue plaminogen
activator (t-PA). T-PA is an enzyme found naturally in the body which converts, or activates, plasminogen into the enzyme plasmin to dissolve blood clots blocking flow to the brain. A genetically engineered form of tissue plasminogen
activator is known as Activase. Because of the highly specialized training required to administer t-PA, this drug is only administered by Emergency Department nurses, Critical Care nurses or the Stroke Neurologist. Administering t-PA within 3 hours of the first stroke symptoms can help offset consequences of a stroke such as stroke damage and disability.
Support - The Stroke Club at Bethesda
Learning to cope after a stroke is made easier with the support and understanding of others. That’s why the Bethesda Stroke Club can provide a valuable
support system for individuals who have experienced a stroke, as well as for their loved ones and friends.
Through the Stroke Club, participants have the opportunity to exchange feelings, ideas and experiences. Friends and loved ones also find a support network
among other caregivers in the club. For more information about the Stroke Club call (561) 737-7733, extension 3974.
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