Norton Stroke Care

In less time than it will take to read this Web page, someone in the United States will have a stroke – a “brain attack” in which blood flow to the brain is interrupted, causing brain cells to lose function and die. On average, a stroke occurs about every 45 seconds. According to the National Stroke Association,  stroke is the leading cause of adult disability and the third leading cause of death in the nation.

Foreknowledge, preparedness, and fast action are the best weapons for withstanding a stroke. A stroke must be treated with the same urgency as a heart attack. Brain tissue is literally starving for oxygen after a stroke, so every minute counts. If treated within the first three hours, the effects of stroke can potentially be minimized and even reversed. That is why the Norton Stroke Care team focuses on quick, accurate diagnosis, early intervention and emergency service.

Our emergency action plan relies on you, the public, to familiarize yourself with stroke’s warning signs and risk factors, and then take appropriate steps to change the risk factors within your control. And most important, if you or someone you know should experience the following symptoms of stroke, call 911 immediately.

The warning signs of stroke

• Sudden weakness, numbness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg – especially on one side of the body
• Difficulty talking or understanding language
• Sudden loss of vision or double vision, particularly in only one eye
• Severe headache with no apparent cause
• Unexplained dizziness, loss of balance or coordination – especially if associated with any of the above symptoms

Norton Stroke Care treatment is coordinated from the moment of first contact. We work closely with Emergency Medical Service (EMS) personnel, who identify potential stroke victims and begin early intervention while enroute to the hospital. When a stroke patient arrives at a Norton Healthcare hospital, our stroke care specialists act swiftly to stabilize vital signs, pinpoint the precise site of blood-flow interruption and, if appropriate, administer highly specialized clot-dissolving drugs – drugs that must be given within the first three hours of stroke onset to reduce brain damage. Because of our immediate action and aggressive intervention, patients have a greater chance of improving their outcome by minimizing the devastating effects of the stroke. Learn more about our emergency stroke team.