Stroke

Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Strokes

Strokes are a serious health issue that could impact a victim for their entire life. The medical realm has made great strides in the research of stroke treatment in recent years, and Butler Health System has been a proud part of that effort. Our center is staffed with highly experienced physicians that assist in the prevention and treatment of strokes.

What is a Stroke?

A stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that caries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or ruptures. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs and brain cells die.

Strokes can be ischemic (a blockage of the artery) or hemorrhagic (when the artery bursts or a bleed). Sometimes a TIA (transient ischemic attack) occurs, this is also known as a mini-stroke that produces stroke-like symptoms. If you are having any symptoms of a stroke call 9-1-1 immediately, the sooner a stroke victim gets to the hospital, the sooner they will get the lifesaving treatment that they need. Stroke survivors have the best outcomes when they receive treatment in 4.5 hours or less.

Click here to learn more about what strokes are and how to prevent/treat them.

How To Spot A Stroke

The acronym BEFAST is used in spotting stroke symptoms.

B – Balance
- Sudden loss of balance or coordination
E – Eyes
- Sudden change in vision
F – Face Drooping
- Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.
A – Arm Weakness
- Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S – Speech Difficulty
- Is Speech slurred, are they unable to speak or are they hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “the sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?
T – Time To Call 911

If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately. Be sure to mark the time of the call so you will know when the first symptoms appeared. This is important information you will need to know when you get to the hospital.

If you notice the early signs of a stroke, seek medical attention immediately. Click here to learn more about the warning signs.

The Stroke Team

Our stroke center team includes neurologists, emergency medicine, rehabilitation specialists, nutritionists, social workers, case managers, and a dedicated clinical nursing staff.

Our team of experts include physicians who are board certified in:

Emergency Medicine
Neurology
Internal Medicine
Interventional Radiology
Pathology
Cardiothoracic Surgery

Strokes can result in numerous debilitating side-effects, which you can read about here.

Strokes are one of the top five leading causes of death in the United States. Treatment for strokes is moving along as fast as it can, but in the meantime we can do our part to end stroke by staying informed on the warning signs and preventing it before it starts. Click here to learn how you can reduce your risk of a stroke.