If you remember only one thing about stroke, remember this: Stroke is a medical emergency. If symptoms appear, call 911 immediately.

Stroke is a potentially deadly condition in which blood flow to portions of the brain is restricted. The result can be partial or complete paralysis, blindness, loss of speech, coma and death.
Treatment with clot-busting drugs can stop some strokes in their tracks. The sooner treatment begins, the more brain tissue can be saved. Studies show that treatment offers less benefit if started more than three hours after symptoms first appear. However,  a person with stroke symptoms should not wait a couple of hours to see if the symptoms will go away. An accurate diagnosis takes time, but is essential to providing the right kind of treatment (for example, giving clot-busting drugs to someone with a hemorrhagic stroke will actually make the stroke worse). It is vital to call 911 immediately if someone begins showing symptoms of stroke, including:

• 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 known cause.

St. Mary’s is North Georgia’s first Certified Primary Stroke Center.  In fact, St. Mary’s was one of the first 20 primary stroke centers to be certified in the nation, and was cited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations as a model for other community hospitals seeking to improve stroke care.

St. Mary’s continuum of stroke care includes:

• On-the-scene care. Skilled emergency personnel can gather essential information and begin treatment even before the patient reaches the hospital. St. Mary’s Emergency Medical Services are like a hospital on wheels.
• Emergency care. High-speed diagnostics and the most modern treatments available give physicians a better chance to stop a stroke cold.
• Inpatient care. St. Mary’s Neuroscience Critical Care Unit and Neuroscience Nursing Unit provide staff and equipment specialized in stroke care.
• Center for Rehabilitative Medicine. Athens’ only acute inpatient rehabilitation facility helps patients achieve their maximum level of ability.
• Home health care. St. Mary’s brings nursing, rehabilitation, aides and more to the homes of eligible patients.
• Outpatient rehab. St. Mary’s Outpatient Rehabilitation and Wellness centers help patients continue improving after leaving the hospital.
• Preventive care. St. Mary’s offers a Wellness Center, annual Community Stroke Forum, nutritional counseling and more to promote healthy lifestyles and reduce the risk of stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.

To learn more about stroke, click here.