Denton County Living Well Magazine Summer 2015 | Page 44

Medical Center of Lewisville’s
Stroke Care Center
Someone suffers a stroke in America every 45 seconds and
every 3.1 minutes someone dies from a stroke.

By Patricia Brown, BSN, RN, Stroke Coordinator, Emergency Department

Kinds of Strokes

For the 750,000 Americans who experience stroke or other cerebrovascular
events each year, immediate attention and individualized care are vital for
maximum recovery. The Stroke Program at Medical Center of Lewisville
features neurologists and nurse practitioners on call 24/7 for triage and
immediate treatment of stroke patients. Our team of professionals takes a
multi-disciplinary approach that’s specifically tailored for each patient to
maximize patient care and optimize their recovery. Our Stroke Program also
offers support and education to the patients and their families.

There are different types of stroke including
ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.

Are You at Risk for Stroke?
There is no typical neurological patient. Each person
will have unique symptoms or perhaps NO symptoms
at all. Prevention and early detection are key factors
in identifying and successfully treating neurological
conditions. Know these warning signs of stroke and
teach them to others. Every second counts:
• 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

Signs of a Stroke

Ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel
supplying the brain becomes blocked by a
blood clot or other particle such as a piece of
plaque. This leads to insufficient blood flow
to the brain, lack of oxygen and ultimately
permanent death of brain cells. There are
various causes of stroke including
atherosclerosis (narrowed vessels due
Quick Facts
to hardening of the artery), heart
about Stroke:
disease and blood clotting disorders.
The risk factors for this type of stroke
• Stroke is America’s
include hypertension, diabetes,
fourth leading
high cholesterol, smoking, atrial
killer.
fibrillation, and obesity. It is important
to perform tests to determine the
• It is the #1 cause
cause of stroke and risk factors in
for nursing home
admissions.
each patient.

• Unfortunately, half
of all stroke victims
have no warning
signs before a
stroke occurs.

Medical Center of Lewisville’s Emergency Services has successfully
implemented a Code Stroke Protocol to ensure the rapid evaluation and
treatment of patients. Aggressive quality efforts are performed to safely
shorten door to treatment times that affords the best patient outcomes.
Think F.A.S.T. if you see any of these stroke signs in a loved one and dial
9-1-1:

FACE - Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
ARMS - Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
SPEECH - Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words

slurred? Is the person confused? Can he/she repeat the sentence correctly?

TIME - It’s time to call 911 if the patient suddenly shows any of these
symptoms, especially if they are accompanied by loss of vision, loss of
balance with dizziness, or the worst headache imaginable.

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DENTON COUNTY Living Well Magazine | SUMMER 2015

Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a
blood vessel ruptures and blood spills
into the brain and its surrounding
structures. Hypertension is the most
common reason for this type of
stroke. Aneurysms and other vascular
malformations may also cause hemorrhagic
stroke. Patients with hemorrhagic stroke are
often evaluated by neurosurgeons, though
most patients do not