When a stroke happens, getting the right care right away can make all the difference. Know the symptoms. Recognize them for what they are. Don’t hesitate to get care if you think it may be a stroke. And do the right things now, to improve your lifestyle and help prevent a stroke from happening in the first place.
If you’re having a stroke, you need to know from the moment you arrive at the emergency room to the day you complete your rehabilitation, the team behind you is the best. Detroit Medical Center Emergency physicians and nurses to quickly diagnose and begin care. Neurosurgeons, neurologists, radiologists and more, immediately available, to interpret your case and deliver the best treatment. Specialized therapists to help you on the road to recovery. All these experts, working together, connected by a plan individualized to your care and dedicated to your recovery. |
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Stroke Team One at Detroit Medical Center
DMC is dedicated to stroke care before, during and after it happens. We’re helping you recognize the signs and symptoms, and recommending changes you can make to help prevent an occurrence. Our emergency services are unparalleled in quality and speed, and our specialists are ready when you arrive, to start delivering the most advanced care. And only DMC has an entire hospital dedicated to rehabilitation.
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At DMC, stroke patients get a bedside evaluation by a stroke neurologist, either in person or by robot, 24/7. DMC has eight fellowship-trained stroke neurologists, four times as many as any other hospital in the region.
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DMC can save more brain by evaluating and treating earlier. The national standard for administration of brain-saving TPA medication for stroke patients is within three hours of diagnosis. DMC hospitals are meeting that standard two to three times more often that any other regional system.
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DMC will perform a full assessment, including carotid and heart, on all patients with TIA or stroke symptoms. Other hospitals may frequently determine that a stroke is not occurring and discharge a stroke patient for follow-up appointments. We'll complete the assessment at the hospital so the patients will "know before they go" whether they have had a stroke, or are at risk for a stroke in the future.
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DMC interventional neurologists can perform clot retrievals up to eight hours after a stroke.
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DMC's expertise in carotid stenting is second to none and always available, thanks to our 24/7 on-site CARDIO TEAM ONE.
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For patients who do suffer a stroke, DMC has outstanding stroke rehabilitation within our system at DMC Rehabilitation of Michigan to help them regain as much function as possible, as quickly as possible.
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WHAT IS STROKE?
A stroke is when an artery that delivers blood to the brain is blocked by a blood clot, or when a blood vessel to the brain breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain. Without this blood flow, brain cells begin to die and brain damage occurs.
When a stoke starts to kill brain cells, the areas of your body controlled by those cells are affected – you may lose control of those areas, affecting your speech, movement and memory. How you are affected depends upon what part of the brain is affected by the lack of blood.
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Someone who has a small stroke may have only minor problems, such as weakness in a leg or arm. People with larger strokes may be paralyzed on one side of their body, or lose their ability to speak.
STROKE SYMPTOMS
The National Stroke Association offers this quick guide to use if you think someone is having a stroke:
Act F.A.S.T.
F – Face: ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A – Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S – Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred? Can he/she repeat the sentence correctly?
T – Time: If the person shows any of these symptoms, TIME IS IMPORTANT. Call 911 or get to the hospital fast. Brain cells are dying.
OTHER Stroke symptoms include:
SUDDEN numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg; especially on one side of the body.
SUDDEN confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
SUDDEN trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
SUDDEN trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
SUDDEN severe headache with no known cause.
If you or someone you know has any of these symptoms, call 911.
Note the time the first symptom was experienced. This is important for your healthcare provider and can affect your treatment decisions.
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