Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and is the #1 cause of disability.

Stroke affects the arteries of the brain and occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or ruptures. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it starts to die. Stroke is considered among the most serious medical emergencies, but prompt and aggressive emergency treatments can save lives and minimize brain injury. It is very important to dial 9-1-1 and quickly get a person experiencing stroke symptoms to a hospital.

One of the most important treatments for stroke is the clot-busting drug called t-PA (tissue plasminogen activator) which needs to be injected within three hours of the onset of symptoms. The drug can prevent lasting disabilities in patients with certain types of stroke.

Since immediate care is critical (Time is Brain) to a stroke patient’s survival and recovery, Newton Memorial Hospital has developed a team of specially trained healthcare professionals to respond rapidly - within 15 minutes - no matter the time of day.

This team includes Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physicians, Neurologists, Radiologists, and Internal Medicine Hospitalists, along with nurses who are specially trained in stroke care. In addition, state of the art computerized tomography (or CT) brain scans and laboratory services are available and respond 24 hours a day.

To initiate this rapid response team, Newton Memorial Hospital calls a “Code Purple” when patients experiencing symptoms of a stroke arrive in the Emergency Department. In most cases, the patient is taken from the ambulance to the CT scan in minutes.

Depending on the patient’s medical needs, he or she is either admitted to the Hospital for inpatient care or transferred to our comprehensive stroke center. Act F.A.S.T.

If you suspect someone you know is experiencing a stroke, act F.A.S.T. and do this simple test:

FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of his or her face droop? ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? SPEECH: Ask the person to say a simple sentence. Are the words slurred? Can he or she repeat the words correctly? TIME: If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is important. Call 9-1-1 or get the person to the hospital as soon as possible.