Stroke Treatment New Braunfels, TX | Resolute Baptist Hospital

Getting the Stroke Care You Need, FAST

During a stroke, 2 million brain cells are lost every minute. At Resolute Baptist Hospital, we focus on stroke prevention and treating strokes promptly to prevent death and brain damage.

If you think you or a loved one may be having a stroke, call 911 immediately. Note the time the symptoms began and report them to the stroke treatment team. This information is important because quick stroke care can save brain cells and increase the chances of recovery.

Resolute Baptist Hospital uses advanced imaging called iSchemaView RAPID technology.

RAPID technology is advanced visualization software for the brain. The software is fast, automated, and results can be viewed on any computer or handheld device by the treating physician. The fully automated solution provides specialists with accurate quantitative maps within seconds, allowing physicians to rapidly assess the severity of a patient's stroke, and determine the most appropriate treatment based on available collateral circulation.

What Is a Stroke?

A stroke, also called a brain attack, occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted. This disruption is caused when either a blood clot block one of the vital blood vessels in the brain (ischemic stroke), or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, spilling blood into surrounding tissues (hemorrhagic stroke). The brain needs a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients in order to function and its cells begin to die after just a few minutes without either.

Stroke Warning Signs and Symptoms

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is blocked or a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and causes brain cells to die. Symptoms include:

Weakness or numbness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
Confusion or difficulty speaking or understanding
Problems with vision in one or both eyes
Dizziness or problems with balance or coordination
Problems with movement or walking
Severe headaches with no other known cause
Loss of consciousness or seizure

Act F.A.S.T. to Identify Signs of a Stroke

Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred? Can he/she repeat the sentence correctly?

Time: If the person shows any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately. Every second counts because brain cells could be dying.

Not every warning sign will occur in every stroke. And even if they do go away, these warning signs should not be ignored. A TIA (transient ischemic attack) is sometimes referred to as a mini-stroke, and produces symptoms similar to a stroke that only last for a short time. But TIA symptoms serve as an important warning that a stroke could be imminent, and it’s important to respond the same way to a TIA as you would to stroke symptoms.

If you think you are having a stroke, call 911 so an ambulance can quickly get to the hospital. When talking to 911, an emergency medical service or the hospital, be sure to use the word “stroke” in order to possibly speed up a diagnosis. Every minute counts when treating a stroke, raising the number of brain cells that can be saved and chances for recovery.

Stroke Risk Factors

These risk factors increase your risk of stroke:

High blood pressure
Heart disease
Diabetes
Cigarette smoking
History of TIAs (mini-strokes)
High cholesterol
Lack of exercise, physical inactivity
Overweight or obese
Excessive alcohol use
Drug use
Abnormal heart rhythm or atrial fibrillation

Stroke Care and Rehabilitation

Stroke is one of the nation’s leading causes of death and a major cause of serious, long-term disability. Resolute Baptist Hospitals provides comprehensive care in the event that you suffer a stroke. It offers:

A dedicated neurological critical-care unit
A state-of-the-art, award-winning angio suite for conducting minimally invasive vascular and endovascular procedures
Long-term outpatient care, including rehabilitation

Be Ready to Reduce Your Risk

Not all risk factors are within your control. Many are hereditary. However, you can reduce your risk by following the American Heart Association’s Life’s Simple 7™: