Sky Lakes Medical Center | Live Smart | Fall 2019

Maybe the most important thing you should know about stroke is that it is always an emergency. Always. A stroke can occur when a blood vessel that feeds oxygen and blood High marks for Sky Lakes stroke care The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association recently recognized the Sky Lakes Emergency Department with a Gold Plus award for its active involvement in “Get With The Guidelines—Stroke” quality measures and placed Sky Lakes on the “Target: Stroke” Honor Roll. These programs are designed to help hospitals make sure patients get the benefits of the latest scientific guidelines-based treatment. Sky Lakes’ achievements demonstrate its commitment to high-quality patient care. Stroke: Why the need for speed to the brain is blocked by a clot. That’s called an ischemic stroke, the most common kind. According to the American Stroke Association (ASA), ischemic strokes make up about 87 percent of strokes. A stroke also can occur when a blood vessel ruptures, spilling blood into the surrounding brain. This is called a hemorrhagic stroke. Hemorrhagic strokes account for about 13 percent of all strokes, according to the ASA. Why is stroke always an emergency? A stroke starves the brain of the nutrients it needs. If a stroke interrupts blood flow to a particular part of the brain that controls a body function, that part of the body won’t work normally. That’s why stroke is a leading cause of disability in the U.S. It kills brain cells. Quick medical treatment is crucial to minimize the long-term effects of stroke and to reduce the risk of death. What are the symptoms of a stroke? The major symptoms of a stroke can be best remembered by the acronym BE FAST, which stands for: Too bad we all can’t have a guardian angel. But we can still help you quit smoking. Get details at SkyLakes.org/QuitNow . B alance. Is there sudden difficulty with balance? Is the person leaning to one side or staggering when walking? E yes. Are there sudden problems with vision in one or both eyes? Does double vision not go away when the person blinks? F ace drooping. Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? A quick way to assess this is to ask the person to smile. Is the smile uneven or lopsided? A rm weakness. Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm dip downward? Is there a sudden loss of coordination? S peech difficulty. Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Is their speech slurred, or are they not able to speak at all? Does the person have difficulty swallowing? T ime to call 911. It’s not a symptom but an urgent reminder to get help right away—even if the symptoms go away. The best way to get emergency medical help for a stroke is to call 911. This way assessment and treatment can be started prior to arrival to the emergency department, saving time—and brain! Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Walla Walla, WA Permit No.44 2865 Daggett Avenue Klamath Falls, OR 97601