According to the American Stroke Association, stroke is the 3rd leading cause of death, behind diseases of the heart and cancer, and the leading cause of adult disability in the United States.

When someone is having a stroke, they need prompt emergency medical care. During a stroke blood supply to the brain is cut off or disrupted, causing part of the brain to go without the oxygen-rich blood it needs. The longer the brain goes without blood, the greater the chance a disability will occur.

Des Peres Hospital has a team of healthcare professionals ready to care for stroke patients.  The clinical team at Des Peres Hospital has the resources and equipment available to evaluate and treat stroke patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The team is ready to quickly evaluate each patient that presents to the hospital with stroke like symptoms.

Des Peres Hospital participates in the American Stroke Association’s Get with the Guidelines Stroke initiative.  The goal of the program is to improve the overall quality of care for stroke patients by improving acute stroke treatment and preventing future stroke events.

Des Peres Hospital is Recognized for Excellence in the Treatment of Stroke

Des Peres Hospital has received the Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission and has been recognized as a Primary Stroke Center.  This means we have demonstrated that our stroke care program follows national standards and guidelines that can significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients. 

What is a Stroke?

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.

Clots that block an artery cause ischemic (is-KEM-ik) strokes. This is the most common type of stroke, accounting for over 80 percent of all strokes.

Ruptured blood vessels cause hemorrhagic (hem-o-RAJ-ik) or bleeding strokes.
When part of the brain dies from lack of blood flow, the part of the body it controls is affected. Strokes can cause paralysis, affect language and vision, and cause other problems. Treatments are available to minimize the potentially devastating effects of stroke, but to receive them, one must recognize the warning signs and act quickly!

Call 91-1 if you or a loved one experience these warning signs

There are warning signs that may serve as clues your body sends that your brain is not receiving enough oxygen. If you observe one or more of these signs of a stroke or "brain attack," don't wait, call a doctor or 911 right away:

• Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg on one side of the body.
• Sudden dimness or loss of vision, particularly in one eye.
• Sudden difficulty speaking or trouble understanding speech.
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
• Unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness or sudden falls, especially with any of the other signs.

Other danger signs that may occur include double vision, drowsiness and nausea or vomiting. Sometimes the warning signs may last only a few moments and then disappear. These brief episodes, known as transient ischemic attacks, or TIAs, are sometimes called "mini-strokes." Since these episodes tend to be brief, many people ignore them. However, TIAs may help identify an underlying serious condition that isn't going to go away without medical help.

Risk Factors

Males and females of all ages and races suffer from strokes.

Regardless of age or race, there are risk factors that you should know about. Keep in mind, though, that having a risk factor doesn't mean you'll have a stroke. On the other hand, if you are missing a risk factor does not mean you'll avoid a stroke. Treatable risk factors for a stroke include:

• High blood pressure
• Cigarette smoking
• Heart disease
• Diabetes