Overview of Strokes
Strokes occur when a clot or blockage happens in an artery that cuts off blood flow to the brain. Because brain cells begin to die in minutes, prompt treatment is crucial. If you’ve had a stroke, you’ll need a team of local experts and access to the best diagnostic tools available.
When a stroke occurs, delays of minutes or even seconds can mean the difference between life and death.
The good news is that fewer Americans are dying of stroke now than in the past since emergency responders are trained to recognize the symptoms and pass that knowledge on to the doctors in the emergency department.
Award-Winning
Stroke Programs
Comprehensive Stroke Center
From more information:
Visit The Joint Commission Website
Primary Stroke Center
For more information:
Visit The Joint Commission Website
We're proud to care for all types of strokes. Our programs have been recognized by The Joint Commission in collaboration with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association:
Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center
Community Regional Medical Center
Primary Stroke Center
Clovis Community Medical Center
Types
Strokes can be broken down into 2 main categories:- Ischemic strokes: Blood clot or plaque debris in the blood vessels.
- Hemorrhagic stroke: Blood vessel ruptures and causes bleeding in the brain.
Tests
To help diagnose a stroke, your doctor may order a number of tests and assessments, which can include:
- Blood tests
- X-rays
- Ultrasound scanning
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): An MRI is a safe and painless test that uses radio waves and magnets to create a detailed view of the inside of the body.
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan: A CT scan uses X-rays to create detailed images of the inside of the body.
- Additional tests: These are conducted to find out whether there are heart-related problems, such as an irregular heartbeat.
Treatment
Before deciding on a course of treatment for you, we'll take into account your specific diagnosis and other factors to come up with an option that best fits your individual needs. We use a multi-disciplinary approach, which means bringing in experts from various fields and divisions to come up with a plan of treatment.Generally, treatment may include:
- Medication: This can include medications to dissolve clots, reduce pressure on the brain or control blood pressure.
- Surgery: There are a number of options for surgical care, depending on factors ranging from the type of stroke (transient ischemic, ischemic or hemorrhagic) to severity.
Road to Recovery
Once you have a stroke, you'll want to reduce the risk of having another. The Road to Recovery Stroke Booklet provides information on how to lower your risk factors.
24/7 Help Available
We have a dedicated team of highly skilled medical professionals — including neurointerventional neurologists/ neurosurgeons/ neuroradiologists, stroke neurologists, neurosurgeons, neurointensivists, nurses, therapists, laboratory and pharmacy staff, and social workers — who are specially trained to diagnose and treat those who are having a stroke.Our evaluation and treatment procedures follow extensive guidelines that address both emergency and ongoing care. In the case of ischemic strokes (80% of stroke cases), we administer thrombolytic medication to break up the clot and restore blood flow to the brain.
What you can expect:
- Your ambulance team communicating with the hospital before you arrive in our emergency department.
- A head CT scan or brain MRI scan performed and interpreted within 45 minutes of admittance.
- Stroke rehabilitation therapy offered immediately after hospitalization to improve long-term outcomes and lower the risk of complications.
