Health & Wellness Providers
Stroke: Prevention, Care, and Treatment Plans Kelly Boardley, BSN, CEN Skagit Regional Health Cardiac and Stroke Coordinator
S
troke is the leading cause of death in the United States. It is also a major cause of serious disability for adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The good news is that 80 percent of strokes are preventable by making slight lifestyle adjustments, such as controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels and taking prescribed medications. Brain Attack A stroke is sometimes called a brain attack. It happens in one of two ways: An ischemic stroke (when the blood supply to the brain is blocked) or hemorrhagic stroke (when a blood vessel breaks inside the brain). There are different treatments based on the type of stroke a person is experiencing and when the symptoms start.
Use BE FAST and call 9-1-1
B E F A S T
Learn the many warning signs of stroke:
Primary Stroke Care Skagit Regional Health is a Primary Stroke Center certified by DNV-GL, a designation that indicates Skagit Regional Health provides highquality treatment for a broad range of stroke conditions, is able to provide acute therapies, and offers stroke-specific inpatient care for stroke patients. The majority of stroke patients who are brought to the Emergency Department are managed within the Skagit Regional Health system, which allows patients to stay in the community where they live while receiving excellent care. Appropriate Treatment Skagit Regional Health conducts essential tests to determine what type of stroke a patient is having, and they provide appropriate treatment through state-of-the-art medical management. If a patient is a candidate for clot-dissolving medication, the Intensive Care Unit at Skagit Valley Hospital is equipped and has specially trained staff members to care for these patients.
BALANCE
A sudden change in balance or dizziness.
EYES
Loss of vision in one or both eyes or double vision.
FACE
Does the face look uneven?
ARMS
A sudden weakness in arm or leg?
SPEECH
Speech slurred, trouble speaking or confused?
TIME
Note the time when symptoms begin. BE FAST and call 9-1-1 right away!
Every minute counts! Call 9-1-1 immediately after symptoms begin to reduce the effects of stroke.
MSH1085A 1120 BE FAST was developed by Intermountain Healthcare, as an adaption of the FAST model implemented by the American Heart Association. Reproduced with permission by Intermountain Healthcare. © 2011 Intermountain Healthcare. All rights reserved.
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Time is Brain – Immediate Action In all cases, it is essential to call 911 right away when a person starts to see changes from their baseline (See BE FAST). Time is brain.
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Telestroke Partners and Specialized Procedures In certain circumstances, patients may be eligible to receive specialized invasive procedures involving a neurointerventionalist to assist in minimizing stroke deficits. In these situations, patients are transferred to the system’s telestroke partners. Skagit Regional (Continued on Page 13) Fall-Winter, 2021-2022
