Care for Stroke

He knew the signs—It’s important to know the signs of stroke. Just ask Charles Peters of Whitehall, Pa., who recognized he was having a stroke after reading about symptoms in Healthy You magazine.

Stroke is a medical emergency. Symptoms include weakness or numbness on one side of your body; confusion or difficulty speaking or understanding; blurry vision; severe headaches and dizziness. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Every second counts when someone is having a stroke. The longer blood flow to the brain is cut off, the greater the damage. Immediate treatment can save your life and improve your chances for recovery.

Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network’s Primary Stroke Centers ensure quick and thorough treatment. There are three types of stroke:

• Ischemic Stroke – This is caused by a blocked artery leading to the brain. The plaque that blocks these arteries can break open or rupture, causing a blood clot to form inside the artery and stopping blood flow to the brain.
• Hemorrhagic Stroke – This is caused by an artery rupture in or near the brain.
• Mini Stroke – Also called a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), this causes stroke-like symptoms when clots form and then break apart in arteries going to the brain. A mini-stroke is usually a warning sign that a major stroke is about to occur.

After you’ve had a stroke, you may need help at home, either for a short time or permanently. We can provide a wide range of services, helping you become as independent as possible. We can help with:

• Skilled nursing care
• Physical therapy
• Speech therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Support groups

Diagnosis

We offer several tests to diagnose stroke. Our experienced staff uses state-of-the-art equipment for all of these tests: 

Treatment

Lehigh Valley Hospital—Cedar Crest in Allentown, Pa., and Lehigh Valley Hospital—Muhlenberg in Bethlehem, Pa., are both accredited by The Joint Commission as Primary Stroke Centers. The hospital’s Stroke Centers have a stroke team with full-time physician coverage and are supported by a care team that includes emergency services, neurology, radiology, neurosurgery and nursing. Advanced treatments include: 

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