LOYOLA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEMWhat is a stroke?
Approximately 785,000 people in the United States suffer a new or recurrent stroke every year. On average, every 40 seconds someone in the country has a stroke. Most of these – 85 to 88 percent – are ischemic, caused by an interruption of the blood supply to part of the brain. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack." An ischemic stroke comes from an obstruction (clot) to a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain. A hemorrhagic stroke is when a weakened blood vessel bursts. A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a very serious “mini stroke” that is caused by a temporary interruption of blood flow to the brain. If blood flow is stopped for longer than a few seconds, the brain will be deprived of oxygen and brain cells can die.
Fast treatment is critical to preserving brain tissue and increasing the likelihood of a positive outcome. For patients suspected of having had a stroke, we make our diagnoses with advanced neuroimaging techniques, computed tomography and catheter-based tests.
It is important that everyone know the signs of a stroke.
The Loyola difference
Our Stroke Center has been certified by the Joint Commission, and received the 2011 American Heart Association / American Stroke Association Get With The Guidelines Gold and Gold Plus Performance Achievement Awards. U.S. News & World Report ranked us as 39th in the nation in Neurology and Neurosurgery.
Learn more about our performance outcomes for stroke and cardiovascular care.
