When it comes to stroke, the health care teams at Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center and Atrium Health Floyd Polk Medical Center know that minutes matter. The sooner you get treatment, the better your chances of survival and recovery.​

• ​ BE FAST and recognize the warning signs​ of a stroke.
• Call 911 if you think someone is having a stroke. Patients treated by Atrium Health Floyd Emergency Medical Services (EMS) receive stroke alert services. This means that patients identified as having a stroke are ensured a quick diagnosis and treatment.
  
• Get to the nearest hospital​​
  

Are You at Risk for Stroke?​

​Most strokes are preventable, and many of the risk factors are controllable. Our stroke risk quiz will help you estimate your chances of experiencing one, find ways to minimize your risk and give you an idea of what to do next based on your results.​

Take the Stroke Quiz​

​​Meeting National Standards of Care​

​Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center meets the national standard of treating stroke patients within 60 minutes of arrival at the hospital, known as door-to-needle time. The goal of such a quick response is to preserve as many brain cells as possible, which increases the chance of survival and recovery.​

Atrium Health Polk Medical Center is an Acute Stroke Ready Hospital and can quickly and effectively treat and stabilize stroke patients prior to sending them to a primary or comprehensive stroke center. Atrium ​Health Floyd Medical Center is just 22 miles north of Atrium Health Polk Medical Center.

Download Our Stroke Guide

Certifications​

Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center has earned the following designations for its care in treating stroke patients:

• Recognized as a Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission. The certification recognizes centers that have the critical elements to achieve long-term success in improving outcomes for stroke patients.
• Stroke SILVER PLUS with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll recognition from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. That award ​recognizes the hospital's commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, leading to more lives saved and reduced disability. Patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, also receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.
  

Atrium Health Polk Medical Center is  recognized as an Acute Stroke Ready Hospital by The Joint Commission.

What is a Stroke?

A stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, occurs when blood cannot flow to the brain as it should. A change in blood flow is caused when one of the following happens:

• A blood clot blocks one of the vital blood vessels in the brain. This is known as an ischemic stroke. Most strokes are ischemic strokes.
  
• A blood vessel in the brain bursts, spilling blood into surrounding tissues. This is called a hemorrhagic stroke.

​The brain needs a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients to function. Even a brief interruption in blood supply, such as with a stroke, can cause problems. Brain cells begin to die after just a few minutes without blood or oxygen, and a loss of brain function occurs with brain cell death.

Stroke is a medical emergency and should be treated by calling 911. The greatest chance for recovery from stroke occurs when emergency treatment is started immediately.

Use BE FAST and recognize the warning signs of stroke.

Stroke Symptoms

These are the most common symptoms of 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

Use BE FAST to help you remember the warning signs of a stroke. If you think someone is having a stroke, do not wait. Call 911 immediately.

Stroke Risk Factors​

About 80 of strokes can be prevented. Add up your points on the Stroke Risk Scorecard to learn if you are at risk. If you are at risk, talk to your primary care doctor about stroke prevention.

Some disease​ and lifestyle risk factors for a stroke include:

• High blood pressure
  
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Smoking
  

Stroke Treatments

• Ischemic strokes:
• Thrombolytic: Must be given within three hours of symptom onset.
• Hemorrhagic strokes:
• Medication management to reduce swelling in the brain.
• Surgery to stop bleeding in the brain.
  

Stroke Recovery

An important step in recovering from a stroke is rehabilitation. Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center and Atrium Health Polk Medical Center offer both inpatient and outpatient rehab that includes the following:

• Speech therapy
  
• Occupational therapy
  
• Physical therapy

Improving your recovery from a stroke will also ​include:

• Blood pressure management
  
• Diabetes management
• Cholesterol management
• Quitting smoking
  
• Changes in diet and exercise​​

​​​​Contact

For more information, call 706-509-5994​ or email us.

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