Stroke
A stroke is a medical emergency where blood flow to the brain is either reduced or stopped, depriving brain tissue of essential oxygen and nutrients. A stroke may cause loss in brain function and affect movement and speech.
Stroke treatment in St. Lucie, Florida
Stroke is a medical emergency that requires prompt emergency care.
The specialists at HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital provide 24/7 stroke care to people in the Port St. Lucie area. Working together, our stroke care team offers the fast, coordinated, lifesaving care you need when every second matters.
Stroke is a medical emergency
If you or someone you know is experiencing a stroke, call 911 immediately.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a stroke, call 911 immediately.
Our stroke care services
From advanced diagnostics and treatments to ongoing rehabilitation after discharge, we provide a wide range of services to support you when you've experienced a stroke.
Nationally recognized stroke center
Our hospital is a Primary Stroke Center designated by The Joint Commission. We also participate in the Get With The Guidelines — Stroke program through the American Stroke Association. These programs reflect our commitment to using nationally recognized stroke treatment protocols and providing high quality stroke care to our community.
Emergency stroke care
As soon as a patient exhibiting stroke symptoms arrives at our emergency room (ER), we immediately use computerized tomography (CT) scanning to identify the location, type, nature and extent of a stroke and any resulting brain injury. Our emergency department is open 24/7 and is staffed with emergency medicine doctors, neurologists and neurosurgeons. We are always ready to quickly diagnose stroke and administer the most effective stroke treatment for each patient.
Stroke support group
Our hospital hosts a stroke support group for stroke survivors and their caregivers to come together in a common place to discuss the life changes and challenges of stroke recovery. The meetings are facilitated by TeleSpecialists experienced stroke nurses. This support group meets virtually via Zoom on the fourth Friday of every month at 2:00pm EST.
To learn more about our stroke support group, please call (772) 398-3583.
To register for the support group, please visit https://tstelemed.com/support-group/.Understanding stroke
A stroke is a serious medical condition that requires immediate emergency care, which is why being knowledgeable about stroke can help save a life.
Types of stroke
A stroke is caused by interrupted blood flow to part of the brain. When blood flow is stopped, that part of the brain can’t receive oxygen and other nutrients. This causes brain cells to die and can result in permanent damage, even death.
There are different types of strokes, including:
- Hemorrhagic stroke: when a blood vessel ruptures and blood leaks into the brain
- Ischemic stroke: when a blood clot blocks blood flow to part of the brain
- Transient ischemic attack (TIA) or "mini stroke": when there is temporary interruption of blood flow to part of the brain
Stroke symptoms
It’s important to be able to recognize signs of a stroke so you can act quickly when they occur. Common stroke symptoms include sudden:
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Loss of balance or coordination
- Numbness, weakness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg (especially on one side of the body)
- Severe headache with no known cause (may be accompanied by pain in the face or stiffness in the neck)
- Trouble seeing in one or both eyes (such as blurred, blackened or double vision)
- Trouble speaking
- Trouble walking
The symptoms of a TIA are the same as those of a stroke, but they usually last only a few minutes. If you think you are experiencing a stroke, don't drive. Call 911.
Stroke risk factors
There are certain factors and conditions that may put you at risk for stroke. However, some of those conditions can often be treated. Some of the major risk factors for stroke include:
- Being 55 years old and older
- Having a family history of stroke
- Having atrial fibrillation (AFib)
- Having diabetes
- Having heart disease
- Having high blood pressure
- Having high cholesterol
- Having poor circulation
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Our Stroke Locations
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