CMC Offers Stroke Care Program

Stroke ranks third as the cause of death in the U.S. and is the leading cause of longterm disability. The goal of our Stroke Care Program is to help everyone understand the risk factors, symptoms and importance of diagnosis as soon as possible. The earlier a stroke is recognized and the patient receives medical attention, the greater chance of complete recovery.For those patients that directly present to CMC, identification and treatment begins in the emergency department. Patients who exhibit signs and symptoms after admission are also cared for in the same expedited fashion. All patients receive continued care by a neurologist and by the only on-staff neurosurgeon in the area.Everyone has some stroke risk. Some you have no control over, such as being 55+, being male, having diabetes, being African-American, or having a family history of stroke. Medical risk factors include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, atrial fibrillation and carotid artery disease. Lifestyle risks include smoking, drinking too much alcohol and being overweight.If you have one of these risk factors, it is very important that you discuss with your doctor the lifestyle and medical changes you can make to prevent a stroke.And if you believe someone is having a stroke, act fast and get them to the CMC Trauma Center as soon as possible.