Stroke is the third leading cause of death and a leading cause of severe, long-term disability. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the
blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it starts to die.
About the Stroke Program
The stroke program at South Fulton Medical Center is designed to quickly assess and treat patients who suffer from a stroke. When it comes to treating and stopping stroke effects, every second counts. The stroke and tele-neurology program includes advanced technologies, stroke-trained nurses in the Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit (CCU), and strict guidelines developed by the American Stroke Association.
Warning Signs
Stroke is a medical emergency. Know these warning signs of stroke and teach them to others. Every second counts:
• 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.
Risk Factors
Some stroke risk factors are hereditary, while other risk factors result
from a person’s lifestyle. You can’t change factors related to heredity
or natural processes, but those resulting from lifestyle or environment
can be modified with the help of a healthcare professional.
Risk factors contributing to stroke:
• High blood pressure
• Cigarette smoking
• Diabetes
• Carotid or other artery disease, atrial fibrillation, peripheral
artery disease or other heart disease
• Sickle cell disease
• High blood cholesterol
• Poor diet
• Physical inactivity and obesity
Risk factors that you can NOT change:
• Age – Your chance of having a stroke approximately doubles for each decade of life after age 55.
• Heredity – Your risk of stroke is greater if a parent, grandparent or a sibling had a stroke.
• Gender – Stroke is more common in men than women, but more than half the total stroke deaths
occur in women.
• Prior stroke, TIA or heart attack – Your risk of having another stroke is greater if you have had one of these events in the past.
Stroke Support Group
Once a month, South Fulton Medical Center hosts a Stroke Support Group for stroke survivors, family members, friends and caregivers. The support group gives those affected by stroke the opportunity to learn more about stroke, share their experiences and become inspired to move forward. Members help one another overcome common challenges by sharing experiences and encouraging one another. Click here for the Event Calendar for more information on the Stroke Support Group.
For a referral to a South Fulton Medical Center physician, please call us at 404-466-WELL. We can match you with a physician based on location, specialty and insurance plan.