St. David's HealthCare Launches The TIA Center for Stroke Prevention at St. David's Medi... (the hospital for less than 24 hours. The...)

St. David's HealthCare Launches The TIA Center for Stroke Prevention at St. David's Medical Center

Date:10/27/2008

the hospital for less than 24 hours. The TIA Center will also focus on patient and caregiver education.

Approximately 80 percent of strokes are preventable. The most important treatable factors linked to TIAs and stroke are high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, heart disease, carotid artery disease, diabetes and elevated cholesterol.

"Time is of the essence for TIA and stroke. Timely and standardized clinical protocols support better care," Cory Jones, M.D., emergency director of St. David's Medical Center, said. "TIAs are extremely important predictors of stroke; urgent assessment and immediate initiation of aggressive therapies after a TIA substantially reduce the risk of a fatal or disabling stroke."

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and the number one cause of adult disability. Stroke kills more than 150,000 Americans a year. About 780,000 Americans each year suffer a new or recurrent stroke. On average, that means a stroke occurs every 40 seconds.

Symptoms of a TIA include:

-- Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.

-- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one

side of the body.

-- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.

-- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.

-- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.

The short duration of these symptoms and lack of permanent brain injury is the main difference between TIA and a stroke. If an individual experiences any of these symptoms, even for a short period of time, that person should seek immediate medical attention.

St. David's Medical Center

Since 1924, St. David's Medical Center has provided quality medical care to the residents of Central Texas. Conveniently located in central Austin at 32nd Street and IH-35, St. David's Medical Center provides comprehensive care with special expertise in neurology and neurosurgery
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St. David's HealthCare Launches The TIA Center for Stroke Prevention at St. David's Medi...(the hospital for less than 24 hours. The...),Health