A stroke is the loss of brain function due to a disturbance in the brain’s blood
supply. It causes an incredible 2 million neurons to die every minute. That’s why
time is so critical after someone has a stroke.
In the United States, about 800,000 people suffer from strokes every year, and nearly
a quarter of strokes occur in people who have had one before. It is the leading
cause of acquired physical disability in American adults, and the fourth leading
cause of death. Northeast Florida is on the southeastern edge of a region referred
to as the “Stroke Belt,” where strokes are most common in the U.S.
A stroke can be caused by ischemia, which is lack of blood flow commonly due to
a clot, or a hemorrhage from burst or bleeding blood vessels in or around the brain.
Maintaining control over high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and high
cholesterol — and keeping them under control — will greatly reduce your
chances of having a stroke. Smoking is also a risk factor.
Since every second counts, the UF Health Comprehensive Stroke Program
team can mobilize around the clock to diagnose and stabilize stroke patients, minimizing
the risk of permanent disability and preserving quality of life.
Stroke Warning Signs
Some signs someone has had a stroke include:
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the
body.
- Sudden confusion, difficulty speaking or difficulty understanding.
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
- Sudden difficulty walking, dizziness or loss of balance or coordination.
- Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.
A stroke is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention. If you experience
any of these signs, call 911.
Why UF Health?
The UF Health Comprehensive Stroke Program provides inpatient and outpatient services
for the diagnosis, management and rehabilitation of stroke patients. Such sophisticated
care is important because research shows that patients improve faster and recover
more completely when managed in a dedicated stroke facility.
Our program has received accreditation from the Agency for Health Care Administration
as a Comprehensive Stroke Center.
Our approach features state-of-the-art methods for the treatment of stroke, such
as the clot-busting drug tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) and interventional procedures.
An interdisciplinary team of University of Florida physicians and specially trained
UF Health Jacksonville staff includes experts in neurology,
neurosurgery, vascular surgery,
neuroradiology, emergency
medicine, medical intensive care,
and rehabilitation services. The program
also encompasses educational and
support group programs for stroke patients.