When a stroke happens, every second counts. As the region’s leader in stroke care, Mercyhealth offers 24/7 treatment at our certified stroke centers throughout northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.
From diagnosis and treatment to rehabilitation and continued care, our highly trained stroke team provides advanced stroke treatments and therapies to save lives and reduce the long-term effects of stroke.
Why choose Mercyhealth for stroke care
In a stroke emergency, having an experienced team with access to the latest treatments, including the most advanced neurovascular intervention (physical removal of blood clots in the brain) for the most critical stroke patients is essential.
Reviewed 3/6/2023
Signs of a stroke
The signs of a stroke often appear suddenly—and they require fast action. Keep scrolling to learn more about important stroke warning signs and how to spot them.
F: Face drooping. Does one side of the face droop? Is it numb?
How to check: Ask the person to smile. Is the smile uneven?
A: Arm weakness. Is one arm weak or numb?
How to check: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S: Speech difficulty. Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand?
How to check: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence like “The sky is blue.” Can he or she repeat it correctly?
T: Time to call 911. If someone shows any of these signs, call 911 immediately—even if the signs go away. Make sure to note the time when the first symptoms appeared.
OTHER POSSIBLE SIGNS OF A STROKE
- Severe headache with no known cause.
- Sudden numbness or weakness of a leg.
- Sudden confusion or trouble understanding.
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination.
If someone shows any of these signs, call 911 right away.
TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT A STROKE
Learning your stroke risk factors can help you understand what changes you need to make to protect your health.
Source: American Stroke Association
Source
- American Stroke Association. "Stroke Symptoms." https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/stroke-symptoms.
We perform catheter-based procedures that can break up or remove stroke-causing blood clots, repair aneurysms in the brain, stent narrowed arteries in the neck and brain, and treat blood vessel malformations.
Our highly trained stroke experts are dedicated to giving you the best care available, helping get you back on your feet as quickly as possible.
Certified stroke centers
Mercyhealth has five certified stroke centers throughout northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Our comprehensive stroke center at Javon Bea Hospital–Riverside provides the highest level of care possible to the most critical stroke patients. Our primary stroke center and three acute stroke ready centers ensure that we are prepared to strokes at any given moment.
Rehabilitation and recovery
We do more than treat stroke emergencies. We also help people regain their independence after a stroke.
Our physical, occupational and speech therapists offer both inpatient and outpatient stroke rehabilitation. Our stroke team is with you every step of the way, focusing on your recovery and helping to restore your life.