Stroke

Overview

At Mayo Clinic, specialists in vascular neurology, endovascular surgical neuroradiology, vascular neurosurgery, neurocritical care, physical medicine and rehabilitation, emergency medicine and other medical subspecialties work together to diagnose and determine the most appropriate treatment for stroke patients and those at risk for stroke.

Mayo's experienced and highly trained physicians care for more than 4,000 patients with stroke or other cerebrovascular (the brain and the blood vessels that supply it) disorders each year. In Mayo's unique system, physicians who are exceptionally skilled at diagnosing and caring for patients with stroke work as a team to recommend treatment programs that address the needs of the patient and family.

All three Mayo Clinic locations are certified as primary stroke centers by The Joint Commission. Certification recognizes centers that make exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes for stroke care. It signifies that the services provided have the critical elements to achieve long-term success in improving outcomes for stroke patients. The Joint Commission is a national organization devoted to improving the safety and quality of care provided to the public through the provision of health care accreditation.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, is ranked among the Best Hospitals for Neurology, Neurosurgery and Rehabilitation care by U.S. News & World Report.

Diagnosis

It is crucial that physicians determine whether stroke is ischemic (caused by a blocked brain artery and the resulting insufficient supply of blood to part of the brain) or hemorrhagic (caused by the rupture of a brain artery and bleeding into or around the brain) before appropriate treatment can begin. Other possible causes of symptoms that mimic stroke, such as a tumor, seizure or infection, must also be ruled out.

Working with many diagnostic tools, experienced Mayo physicians can determine the precise location of stroke, its cause, and how much damage resulted from the stroke to make essential treatment decisions quickly.

Read more about diagnosis of stroke.

Treatment

Stroke is categorized into two main types: ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. Each type is treated differently but, in general, stroke treatment involves three stages: prevention, medication and surgery, and rehabilitation.

Read more about treatment options for stroke.

• Treatment in Arizona
• Treatment in Florida
• Treatment in Minnesota

About Stroke

Stroke is caused by the rupture or obstruction (a clot) of a blood vessel of the brain. The result may be a sudden loss of strength or sensation in the face, arm or leg (or some combination of the three), visual disturbance or double vision, speech or language difficulty, or imbalance. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, clumsiness or severe headache. When stroke occurs, the blood supply to a part of the brain is interrupted or severely reduced, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. Brain cells begin to die within a few minutes.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. It is the leading cause of adult disability. Every year about 750,000 Americans experience stroke and about 160,000 die from it. Only cardiovascular disease and cancer cause more deaths annually.

Fewer Americans now die of stroke than died 20 years ago, however, due to improved control of major risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.

Read more about stroke at www.MayoClinic.com.