What is it?
Stroke is the third most common cause of death in civilized countries and the leading cause of disability in adults. It has been defined as the abrupt onset of new neurological abnormalities resulting from a lack of blood flow to (ischemia) or bleeding (hemorrhage) within the brain. Approximately 85 percent of all strokes are ischemic, with hemorrhages accounting for about 15 percent. Often caused by disease of the cerebral blood vessels, strokes also can result from primary diseases of the heart or other parts of the body.
The most common symptoms of a stroke are: trouble speaking, trouble seeing, weakness of one side of the body or difficulty walking. If you or a loved one experiences one or several of these symptoms suddenly, please call 911.
What can be done?
- Acute (within 3-6 hours of most types of stroke) treatment of a stroke can reverse or decrease the amount of injury. Ochsner Acute Stroke Intervention Service or OASIS is available 24hr/day, 7 days/week. It is run by Stroke Neurologists who work very closely with Interventional Cardiology.
- Preventing strokes either prior to ever having one or after one has occurred involves management of heart disease, blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol. Tobacco use remains the biggest risk that can be avoided. Your doctor may also place you on an aspirin (reduces risk of stroke by a third), blood thinner or other type of medicine to reducing clotting. Finding out the cause of the stroke is one of the most important steps in being able to reduce the risk of another one occuring.
- Assessing Risk of stroke in patients who may have inherited diseases or other, less common causes of stroke is an important responsibility of a trained Stroke Neurologist.
- Rehabilitating those who have had strokes takes an integral team of physical, occupational, and speech therapists as well as physiatrists and social workers.
Our Team:
Liz Allen, Stroke Coordinator
Ochsner Singled Out for Stroke Care with Gold Performance Award
