Nervous System Disorders
uva stroke.com
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. and the leadering cause of serious long-term disability. Every 45 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke - every 3 minutes, someone dies of one.
Those at risk include adults 40 years and older -- particularly African American or Hispanic men -- with a history of high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, heart disease, diabetes or previous TIAs (transient ischemic attacks) -- small strokes that last a few minutes or hours.
How to recognize stroke
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
What to do when stroke strikes
- Call 911 immediately
- Alert them that you believe someone is having a stroke
- If you have a choice of where to be treated, ask to be taken to a hospital where specialists are experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of stroke
Stroke care at UVa
The UVa Stroke Team – Ready and Waiting 24/7
Our team includes neurologists who specialize in stroke, emergency room physicians, vascular and minimally invasive neurosurgeons, interventional neuroradiologists, a neuropsychologist, social workers, specialized nurses and other professionals. UVa’s team is specially trained to diagnose and stabilize all stroke patients.
UVa stroke experts have full capabilities to treat both ischemic (clotting) and hemorrhagic (bleeding) strokes and have achieved outcomes for length of stay, mortality and complications below state averages.
For patients with ischemic (clotting) strokes who can get to UVa within three hours, our team is skilled in giving intravenous tPA and has a record of good results. The proper administration and use of tPA can increase the chance of full recovery by as much as 33 percent.
For those with hemorrhagic strokes, UVa’s team offers both clipping and coiling to block aneurysms. If necessary, treatment can be offered via skilled vascular and minimally invasive neurosurgery.
For those in outlying areas of Virginia, intra-arterial interventions for stroke can be offered at up to six hours past onset; however, patients should arrive at the UVa Emergency Department within 4.5 hours to allow for work up and to give the interventionalists time to place catheters to administer the treatment.
In addition, basilar artery thromboses can be treated with intra-arterial thrombolysis out to 24 hours. Complicated strokes can be referred to UVa for further diagnostic studies, including cerebral angiograms. All patients are followed in UVa Hospital’s specialized stroke unit. After discharge, patients are referred to the most convenient rehabilitation facility in consultation with their physician and the stroke specialist.
Are you at risk for a stroke?
View or Print the UVa Stroke Fact Sheet
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