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Stroke

A stroke is a medical emergency where blood flow to the brain is either reduced or stopped, depriving brain tissue of essential oxygen and nutrients. A stroke may cause loss in brain function and affect movement and speech.

Stroke center in Asheville, North Carolina

We want to not only help you overcome a stroke, but prevent any more in the future.

When it comes to stroke treatment, a fast, expert response can make all the difference. At Mission Hospital, our stroke specialists support you and your family through it all, while striving to reduce long-term impacts.

Related specialties

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Services offered at our comprehensive stroke center

We provide comprehensive stroke diagnosis, treatment and management that is quick and effective. Our goals are stabilization, rehabilitation and education for the future.

Recognizing signs of a stroke

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is cut off. Before too many brain cells are compromised, you or your loved one must "B.E. F.A.S.T." when recognizing the following symptoms:

  • Balance — Sudden loss of balance?
  • Eyes — Sudden blurred or double vision?
  • Face — Is either side drooping?
  • Arms — Does one drift down when raised?
  • Speech — Slurred or garbled speech?
  • Time — Call 911 and note when symptoms began.

Stroke treatments

Using our experience and expertise, we are proud to have become a trusted stroke care resource in Western North Carolina. While we work fast, as is necessary in the case of a stroke, we still work to understand your personal condition and how your current health impacts the effects of a stroke. Depending on the severity of your condition, we may use more conservative treatments related to long-term prevention such as medication. However, sometimes surgery is necessary to most effectively treat a stroke.

Demonstrating our commitment to advanced surgical practices, we use minimally invasive techniques whenever possible. These types of procedures leave you with minimal-to-no scarring, and allow you to have a faster recovery and shorter hospital stay.

Clot retrieval (embolectomy)

Clot retrieval can be a viable option if you have had a stroke and have not positively responded to clot-dissolving medications within the first few hours. The procedure usually takes just a few minutes, and uses catheters to remove the stroke-causing clot. We have seen most recovery periods include little-to-no long-term damage.

Coiling for brain aneurysms

Similar to the clot retrieval procedure, coiling involves neurointerventional radiologists inserting a catheter into an artery in your groin and threading it up to the site of the aneurysm (otherwise known as a bulge in a blood vessel). As this procedure is anchored by two-to-three-millimeter-sized coils, it is an extremely delicate process than can take longer than three hours.

Stroke rehabilitation

Once you have stabilized following a stroke, our rehabilitation team will evaluate your needs and work with you to regain function, skills and independence. We help you see the hope and possibility following recovery from a stroke, and we are proud to offer both >inpatient rehabilitative care, as well as outpatient rehabilitation. These two therapeutic avenues can each be personalized to your needs, with physical, psychological, occupational, speech and cognitive rehabilitation at your disposal. Our hope is to help you achieve the best possible quality of life as a true stroke survivor.

Important information to know

A stroke is very serious, but can also be very preventable. There are several lifestyle factors that can lower and, in some cases, eliminate your future stroke risk.

Stroke prevention education

Some healthier habits that you can integrate into your daily life include:

  • Checking your blood sugar before each meal (and at bedtime, if you have diabetes)
  • Eating a low fat, low cholesterol diet
  • Exercising daily or near-daily
  • Getting regular checkups for irregular heartbeats
  • Having your cholesterol tested yearly
  • Monitoring your daily blood pressure if it is already high
  • Scheduling annual physicals
  • Stopping smoking
  • Understanding your family medical history

Stroke prevention

When either you or a loved one is experiencing a stroke, quick action matters. Our doctors are here to inform you of best practices for recognizing a stroke and how you can help prevent serious consequences.

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