Stroke is the number third cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of serious disability among Americans. A stroke happens when a blood vessel that carries oxygen to the brain is blocked by a clot or bursts. When the blood flow is blocked, brain cells start to die.

Signs of Stroke

The American Stroke Association recommends you know the signs and teach them to others:

· Sudden confusion, trouble talking, or understanding speech.

· Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.

· Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination.

· Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

If you or someone you know experiences any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.

Act FAST

The National Stroke Association recommends using the F.A.S.T. test for recognizing and responding to stroke symptoms:

FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of his or her face droop?

ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Can he or she repeat it correctly, or are the words slurred?

TIME: If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is critical. Call 911 immediately.

Quick diagnosis and treatment is critical to saving lives and reducing the debilitating effects of stroke.

Comprehensive Care at JFK

The Stroke Center at JFK Medical Center is fully certified by the Joint Commission. We have a precision team of emergency medicine physicians, nurses, neuroradiologists and neurologists and Palm Beach County’s only neuron-interventional radiologist to deliver immediate, stroke-related treatment.

When a patient arrives at the Stroke Center, a physical exam is conducted and tests are done immediately to learn the cause and determine the type of stroke a patient has had, allowing the physician to determine and provide the most effective course of treatment.

Treatment Options

Powerful clot-busting drugs, such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), have proven to be particularly effective when the CT scan shows no sign of bleeding. tPA helps restore blood flow to the damaged area of the brain. Studies show patients with ischemic stroke who receive tPA within three hours of the onset of symptoms can reduce the chance of brain damage and permanent disabilities.

Specialists at JFK may perform a cutting-edge procedure using blood vessels to deliver tPA to specific parts of the brain. Other treatments include carotid surgery and newly approved carotid artery stents.

Another procedure performed only by our neurointerventional radiologist is the Merci® Retrieval System. This procedure literally pulls blood clots from the brain, working much like a corkscrew. It’s the first medical device approved by the Food and Drug Administration to physically remove blood clots from the brains of stroke patients.

For more information about JFK Medical Center’s Stroke Center, log onto our website at www.jfkmc.com or call 1-800-616-1927.