Stroke

How to Recognize Possible Stroke Symptoms

It can be hard or impossible for a person who is having a stroke to say what’s happening. Use the acronym “BE FAST” to know what warning signs to watch for in your loved ones or people around you:

• Balance: Is the person suddenly having trouble with their balance or coordination?
• Eyes: Is the person having sudden trouble seeing out of one or both eyes or experiencing sudden blurred or double vision?
• Face: Is one side of the person’s face drooping or numb? To check, ask the person to smile.
• Arm: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise their arms. Does one arm drift downward?
• Speech: Can the person speak? Is their speech slurred or hard to understand? Tell the person to repeat a simple phrase. Can they do so correctly?
• Time to call 911: If the person has any of these symptoms — even if they go away — call 911 right away. Make sure you note when the person’s symptoms began.

Don’t wait to get help, even if the person says they’re OK and don’t need medical attention. Delays in emergency stroke care can lead to serious and life-threatening complications.

The Area’s Leading Stroke Treatments

We treat both ischemic stroke (a blockage of blood in one of the arteries that brings blood to the brain) and hemorrhagic stroke (a leak or rupture in one of the arteries in the brain). Our stroke team members provide treatment that is based on guidelines from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association to ensure the highest-quality care. If you or a loved one comes into our Emergency Department with potential symptoms of a stroke, our expertly trained doctors and staff members will perform a quick, thorough evaluation and provide the needed care as quickly as possible.

We provide three highly advanced treatments 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to treat strokes:

• IV (intravenous) treatment: We can inject a medication known as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), also known as alteplase or a “clot-buster,” to break up blockages that cause strokes.
• IA (intra-arterial) treatment: Using a minimally invasive procedure and tiny, flexible tubes called catheters, we can enter the blocked blood vessel and break up the blockage. This is a type of endovascular treatment for stroke.
• Mechanical thrombectomy: Using precise image guidance, we insert a catheter and guide it into the blocked blood vessel. Next, we use a special tool called a stent retriever to safely remove the blockage from the blood vessel and restore normal blood flow. This is another type of endovascular stroke therapy. We have been certified by The Joint Commission as a Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center — the only center in north Louisiana to earn this recognition.

No other providers in our area offer endovascular stroke treatments. Other providers in our area only offer IV treatment for stroke. We are one of only five centers in Louisiana that offer these advanced therapies, and the other four are in the south Louisiana/New Orleans region. We often see patients who have been transferred from other centers in our area because of our ability to provide these lifesaving procedures.

COVID-19: Emergency Stroke Care Is Still Available

Although we encourage you to protect yourselves and your loved ones during the coronavirus pandemic, you should still call for help right away if you or a loved one experiences stroke symptoms.

Our teams have safeguards in place to reduce the risk of COVID-19 for you and all our patients. Learn more about our COVID-19 resources.

How to Reduce Your Stroke Risk

You or a loved one could suffer a stroke at any time with little or no warning. But there are ways to decrease your risk of having a stroke in the first place. Lower your risk of stroke by addressing these risk factors:

• Control diabetes if you have it: Successfully treating and managing diabetes can delay complications that increase your stroke risk.
• Live a healthy lifestyle: Eat a balanced diet, maintain a healthy weight, and exercise regularly to reduce high blood pressure.
• Manage heart disease: If your doctor has told you that you have heart disease or high blood pressure, ask about your treatment plan and whether you need medication to help prevent the formation of clots in your blood vessels.
• Stop smoking: Smoking greatly increases your risk of having a stroke.