Stroke

Often referred to as a "brain attack," a stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted. When this happens, you need comprehensive, expert care as quickly as possible. And our team is here to help, both before, during and after a stroke.

Signs and Symptoms of Stroke

During a stroke, your brain cells stop receiving oxygen. Quickly identifying the signs and symptoms of stroke could make all the difference in preventing long-term damage.

That's why it's important to know the BE FAST acronym, which highlights the signs of a stroke:

• Balance: An unexplained loss of balance, unable to sit up right or walk in a straight line.
• Eyes: Vision loss, blurry vision, or even seeing double.
• Face: A sudden face drop or numbness, particularly on one side of the face. It is especially noticeable when a person smiles.
• Arm: Arm weakness or numbing, especially on one side of the body. Ask the person to raise both arms and look for one arm to drift downward.
• Speech: Look for slurred speech or mixed words. Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence.
• Time to call 911: If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 911 and go to a hospital immediately.

Common conditions that we can help treat after a stroke include:

• Weakness, paralysis, and problems with balance or coordination.
• Pain, numbness, or burning and tingling sensations.
• Fatigue, which may continue after you return home.
• Inattention to one side of the body, also known as neglect; in extreme cases, you may not be aware of your arm or leg.
• Urinary or bowel incontinence.
• Speech problems or difficulty understanding speech, reading, or writing.
• Difficulty swallowing.
• Memory problems, poor attention span, or difficulty solving problems.
• Visual problems.
• Depression, anxiety, or mood swings with emotional outbursts.
• Difficulty recognizing limitations caused by the stroke. 

Stroke Treatment at Virtua

When it comes to stroke, we believe that "time is brain," meaning you need to act fast to prevent or limit long-lasting damage. In fact, we recommend seeking emergency care within three hours of stroke symptoms for optimal outcomes.

Here's how we deliver the high-quality care you need, as quickly as possible:

• Stroke expertise: Based at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, the Penn Medicine | Virtua Health Neurosciences Program provides you access to nationally recognized neurosurgeons, neurologists, radiologists, neuro-hospitalists, and clinical and auxiliary staff. We work closely together to deliver the expert treatment and follow-ups you need.
• 24/7 teleneurology: Our emergency room physicians have around-the-clock access to neurologists via virtual communications. That means rapid evaluations to administer appropriate treatments and care.
• Hybrid operating room: Our state-of-the-art facilities feature advanced imaging equipment. This allows our team to use microsurgery and other techniques to remove stroke-causing blood clots, stop bleeding in the brain, or open a blocked carotid artery. The neurosurgery team at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes has received the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for excellence in surgically removing clots to quickly and safely restore blood flow to the brain.
• Post-stroke care: Stroke affects everyone differently. That's why our neurologists, neurosurgeons, physical therapists, and specialists work with you and your care team to develop personalized treatment plans to manage symptoms and improve your quality of life.