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If you are experiencing the signs and symptoms of stroke, seek emergency medical care immediately to ensure the best possible outcome.

Your brain requires a constant supply of oxygen in order to properly function. Since brain cells begin to die after just a few minutes without blood or oxygen, even a brief interruption in this supply can cause irreparable damage.

Stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is disrupted. Time is critical if you or someone you love is having a stroke. The longer the brain is without oxygen, the more severe the damage is likely to be. To be most effective, certain lifesaving treatments must be started within a small window of time.

SSM Health Neurosciences offer the most advanced treatments for stroke. When every second counts, our experienced team of neurologists, neurointerventionists, neurosurgeons, stroke nurse practitioners, stroke coordinators, ER physicians, radiologists, dedicated nurses and clinicians work together to deliver life-saving treatment.

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Stroke Risk Assessment

Understanding your risk for stroke is the first step in prevention. This quick and easy risk assessment takes just a few minutes to complete and provides you with immediate results.

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Types of Strokes

There are two primary types of stroke: ischemic and hemorrhagic.

An ischemic stroke happens when either a blood clot or piece of plaque blocks one of the vital blood vessels in the brain. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a weakened blood vessel ruptures, spilling blood into surrounding tissues.

In both cases, stroke can be devastating: it is the leading cause of long-term disability and a leading cause of death in the United States. While advances in treatment have increased the odds of survival, there are steps you can take to prevent one from happening in the first place. Many of these risk factors are under your control. Take our stroke risk assessment and then schedule an appointment with you SSM Health provider to discuss the results and learn about the healthy lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your stroke risk.

Since each type of stroke requires a different type of treatment, your emergency medical team must determine the cause of the stroke, as well as the location, as quickly as possible. At SSM Health, our specialized stroke team offers comprehensive diagnosis, cutting edge treatment and effective rehabilitation to help you recover from stroke.

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