Every 45 seconds, someone in America has a stroke.
Every 3.1 minutes, someone dies of one.

What is a Stroke?

A stroke is a brain attack. It occurs when an artery in the brain is blocked or ruptured and blood-carrying oxygen to the brain cells is cut off. A brain attack affects all activity from walking to speaking and breathing. Strokes, like heart attacks, require immediate emergency care. It is essential that individuals who experience stroke symptoms go to the emergency room or dial 911. Many individuals who experience symptoms wait too long before seeking medical attention. The faster medical attention is sought, the greater the patient’s chances of recovery.

Signs and Symptoms

• Sudden weakness, numbness or paralysis of the arm, leg, face or side of the body.
• Sudden difficulty seeing in one or both eyes, or double vision.
• Sudden fall, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
• Sudden intense or unexplained headache.
• Trouble talking or understanding speech or loss of memory.

These are warning signs only. But if they occur, call your doctor or call 911 immediately.

Facts About Strokes

• While the physician cannot stop the stroke once it has begun, he or she can minimize the damage by restoring blood flow to the brain. The patient must be seen and rapidly evaluated within three to six hours from the onset of the first symptom. The faster he or she can be seen, the better.
• Almost 500,000 new strokes occur every year and in the United States, a stroke occurs every minute.
• Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, right behind heart disease and cancer, and affects about one in five people.
• Stroke is the number-one cause of disability in adults and is the leading reason patients are discharged from hospitals to nursing homes. The risk of stroke doubles every decade after age 55.
• Approximately 75 percent of the 1.2 million Americans suffering brain attacks each year are over age 65. Males, diabetics, previous stroke victims and African-Americans are at greater risk for stroke.
• Researchers have found strokes are more common during extreme temperature changes.

Where to seek emergency care?

St.Joseph Hospital’s emergency room is well equipped to handle any medical needs, while providing a home-like environment. A highly trained staff of medical professionals is available to diagnose, treat and care for patients in a timely manner. Although not a Trauma Center, St.Joseph ER is equipped to handle most serious or life-threatening conditions. For those emergencies that require the most sophisticated diagnosis and treatment, St.Joseph has a helipad and is conveniently located just minutes by air to several major medical centers with trauma units. Each year, St.Joseph Hospital’s ER sees and treats over 20,000 patients from Howard County and the surrounding areas.

St.Joseph is a member of the St.Vincent Health system, which includes 16 health ministries throughout Indiana. Through this affiliation, St.Joseph patients have access to The Emergency Stroke Center at St.Vincent Indianapolis, which is a dedicated response team of health care professionals including ER physicians, neurologists, neuroradiologists, nurses and the EMS/EMT response team.

Stroke Classes

St.Joseph also offers educational classes for stroke survivors and their families. Certified professionals, who are educated and experienced in stroke rehabilitation and prevention teach group classes. Classes are offered throughout the month and are from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. in the ARU dining room on the second floor of the St.Joseph Hospital. For more information, call (765) 456-5382.

Stroke Support Groups

St.Joseph Physical and Sports Therapy department has partnered with the American Heart Association to form a monthly Stroke Support Group for stroke survivors and their families. The group was formed with the goals of providing accurate information for education that promotes a better understanding of stroke recovery, rehabilitation and prevention of recurrent strokes; offering a way for stroke survivors to meet others with similar challenges and experiences to support each other in positive ways; to provide caregivers and family members a structured approach for sharing and supporting each other.

The meeting has two groups, stroke survivors and caregivers.  Amy Cunningham, M.A., C.C.C., speech pathologist and Marianne Hakes, M.A., C.C.C., speech pathologist, facilitate the stroke survivors.  Jane Toor, M.A., C.C.C., speech pathologist, facilitates the care givers. The group meets the third Thursday of the month from 3 - 4:30 p.m. at St.Joseph Physical and Sports Therapy - Forest Park Classroom (2130 W. Sycamore St., Suite 140).  For more information or to register, please call (765) 236-8500.