Stroke
A stroke is a medical emergency where blood flow to the brain is either reduced or stopped, depriving brain tissue of essential oxygen and nutrients. A stroke may cause loss in brain function and affect movement and speech.
St. Mark’s Hospital is a Comprehensive Stroke Center
When you come to our hospital for stroke care, our experienced stroke care team is standing by.
At St. Mark’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, we’ve assembled teams of knowledgeable, experienced stroke care professionals, including specialists in our emergency care departments. Our stroke team works closely with our neurologists, neurosurgeons, physical therapists and others to provide you with swift treatment to maximize your recovery.
Expert advice, available 24/7
Free medical information is just a phone call away. Our nurses help you understand your symptoms, treatment options and procedures. They will also help you find a provider or specialist and schedule an appointment.
Free medical information is just a phone call away. Our nurses help you understand your symptoms, treatment options and procedures. They will also help you find a provider or specialist and schedule an appointment.
Related specialties
Learn more about our related specialties
Nationally recognized stroke care
St. Mark’s Hospital has been awarded the Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification from DNV GL-Healthcare. This certification means that we are ready 24/7 to care for all types of strokes. Our leading neurovascular services can treat any type of stroke or neurological injury.
Signs and symptoms of a stroke
Knowing the signs and symptoms of a stroke can help save your life or your loved one’s. Call 911 and seek emergency care if any of the below symptoms appear suddenly:
- Confusion, trouble speaking or trouble understanding
- Dizziness
- Numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Severe headache with no known cause
- Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Trouble walking or loss of balance or coordination
Our services and treatments
Our hospital is equipped to quickly treat and manage strokes, as well as brain injuries and other conditions. Our exemplary care teams provide:
- Brain coiling and embolization for ruptured aneurysms
- Craniectomy for excessive brain swelling
- Continuous EEG monitoring for the diagnosis and management of stroke, seizures and other conditions
- Embolization and other surgical interventions for arteriovenous malformations (AVMs)
- External ventricular pressure monitoring and drainage
- Management of all types of cerebral hemorrhages
- Management of brain tumors
- Management of unruptured cerebral aneurysms or AVMs
- Monitoring and treatment of cerebral vasospasm
- Tenectplase for acute stroke
- Thrombectomy for acute stroke
Emergency stroke treatment
Our care coordination for stroke patients begins before you even reach one of our emergency departments. We work closely with local emergency medical services (EMS) to ensure they notify us from the field when a suspected stroke occurs. This collaboration means our team is assembled and ready as soon as the patient reaches our ambulance bay. We meet you in the bay to greet, assess and treat you quickly and effectively.
What is a stroke?
A stroke — sometimes called a brain attack —occurs when the blood flow to an area of your brain is disrupted. The cells in the affected area of the brain may not receive adequate oxygen and begin to die off. Abilities controlled by the brain, such as muscle control or memory, can be lost. Because 30,000 brain cells die each second during a stroke, you need medical intervention as quickly as possible to stop the stroke and limit any damage.
What are the types of stroke?
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.
How can you tell if someone is having a stroke?
If you suspect someone is having a stroke, think "BE FAST." BE FAST is an acronym that stands for:
- Balance — Watch for sudden loss of balance.
- Eyes — Check for vision loss.
- Face — 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.