Stroke

If you believe you or someone you know is having a stroke, dial 911 immediately.

At MountainStar Healthcare hospitals, we’ve assembled teams of knowledgeable, experienced stroke care experts, including specialists in our emergency care departments. They work closely with neurologists, neurosurgeons, physical therapists and others to treat stroke patients quickly and maximize their recovery. Additionally, all of our hospitals have been recognized for providing comprehensive stroke care.

A stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, occurs when the brain's blood supply is interrupted. Within minutes, brain tissue starts to die and the patient experiences a sudden loss of brain function.

According to the American Stroke Association, stroke is the fifth cause of death and a leading cause of long-term disability in the U.S.

There are two main types of stroke: hemorrhagic and ischemic.

• Hemorrhagic stroke—A hemorrhagic stroke is either a brain aneurysm burst or a weakened blood vessel leak in which blood spills into or around the brain, creating increased pressure.
• Ischemic stroke—An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel carrying blood to the brain is blocked by a blood clot, causing blood not to reach parts of the brain.

Knowing the signs and symptoms of a stroke can help save lives.

If any of the below symptoms appear suddenly, call 911 and seek emergency care:

• Confusion, trouble speaking or trouble understanding
• Dizziness
• Numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Trouble walking or loss of balance or coordination
• Severe headache with no known cause

If you suspect someone is having a stroke, BE FAST. "BE FAST” is an acronym for:

• Balance: Does the person have a sudden loss of balance
• Eyes: Has the person lost vision in one or both eyes
• Face: Does the person’s face look uneven? Is one side of the face drooping?
• Arms: Can they raise both arms? Does one drift downward?
• Speech: Are their words slurred? Can they repeat back a simple sentence?
• Time: Time is crucial. If you notice these symptoms, call 911. Every second counts!

Ogden Regional Medical Center now offers endovascular thrombectomy treatment for stroke patients, featuring experienced physicians and state-of-the art equipment with 24/7 coverage.

In a minimally invasive procedure, highly trained physician specialists thread a catheter through an artery in the groin or wrist up to the blocked artery in the brain to make passage for a stent retriever, a wire cage-like device capable of capturing and removing blood clots from the brain. This procedure may be performed from symptom onset to up to 24 hours after the first signs of a stroke. Time affects both the type of treatment a patient can receive and their health outcomes.

Time is brain — and now Ogden Regional Medical Center offers even more treatment options for patients who are experiencing a stroke.