Stroke Center
Stroke
Center:
Phelps is designated as a Stroke Center by the New York State Department of
Health, which means that the hospital's stroke program meets national standards
that radically improve outcomes for stroke patients and specialized staff members
from a variety of medical and surgical disciplines (including the emergency
department, neurology, neurosurgery and radiology) have undergone extensive
training.
When a stroke occurs, there is a short window of time to salvage the afflicted
brain. To reduce damage, it is critical that victims are diagnosed and treated
promptly. Research shows that patients treated at hospitals with a Stroke Center
designation have reduced morbidity and mortality, fewer complications, and improved
long-term outcomes.
The Phelps Stroke Center has on-site, state-of-the-art equipment needed to make
a quick and accurate diagnosis and, when indicated, to begin treatment with
clot-busting medications such as tissue plasminogen activator, commonly known
as tPA.
To be effective, this life-saving drug must be administered within three hours.
Phelps offers a continuum of services for long-term rehabilitation, such as
physical, speech and occupational therapy, avoiding the need for patients to
transfer to other facilities that might be far away from their families Phelps
is the only community hospital in Westchester with inpatient rehabilitation.
Phelps' outpatient physical rehabilitation service features actual living settings,
including a fully furnished bedroom, bathroom and kitchen, where stroke patients
can relearn skills for daily living.. Rehabilitation is also available at Kendal
on Hudson, a continuing care retirement community located on the hospital campus.
Stroke FACT Sheet
What is a stroke?
- A stroke is a brain attack and, therefore, an emergency. Every minute without treatment increases chances of serious stroke-related disabilities or death. Stroke is treatable, and tPA, a "clot-busting" drug, is available.
- A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a brief episode of a neurological dysfunction that lasts less than one hour. TIAs and strokes have a common underlying cause and common preventive approaches. A TIA does not leave a patient with permanent damage, but commonly predicts the strong possibility of a full-blown stroke.
What are the symptoms?
- Both stroke and TIA can involve sudden onset of severe headache, confusion, trouble speaking or seeing, numbness or weakness, especially on only one side of the body.
What is the impact?
- Stroke has tremendous impact:
- Stroke is the most common cause of death and disability in the U.S.
- 4 out of 5 American families will be impacted by stroke.
- Every 45 seconds in the U.S. someone experiences a stroke.
- Every 3 minutes someone dies from a stroke.
- In the U.S. stroke kills twice as many women as breast cancer.
- Stroke incidence increases with age; the number of people having strokes will double in 25 years.
- Stroke's cost to society was $53.6 billion in 2004.
What can you do to prevent stroke?
Address the following risk factors:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Atrial fibrillation
- Coronary artery disease
- High cholesterol
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Physical inactivity
Make lifestyle changes:
- Control weight
- Eat a low-fat diet
- Monitor cholesterol
- Quit smoking
- Exercise
Gender differences in stroke
Strokes manifest differently in women:
- Women have unique risk factors, such as hormone replacement therapy and migraine headaches that include auras (visual disturbances such as seeing zigzag lines, flashing lights, blind spots, blurred vision or becoming sensitive to bright light).
- Female stroke victims experience more:
- Dementia
- Disability
- Depression
- Admissions to nursing homes
- Mortality
- Complications
What should you do if you think you're having a stroke?
- Immediately call 911, wait for the ambulance, and go to the closest emergency room that has expertise in handling acute cerebrovascular accident (CVA).
- At the emergency room, a physician will evaluate you for treatment. If you've
had the type of stroke that's eligible for the clot-busting drug tPA, it will
be administered as soon as possible.