Prevention & Screenings
It all starts with education.
The Stamford Health Stroke Center conducts many community screenings at employee health fairs, churches, senior centers and other venues. These screenings help identify individuals who have certain risk factors for stroke. Some root causes and risk factors can include:
We aim to educate the public on the impact these risk factors can have on their health. If we determine an individual to be at risk, we can refer him or her to an appropriate specialist at the Stamford Health Stroke Center.
Diagnosis
To help determine the type of stroke you might have, we use tools such as:
- Acute CT scan and CT angiography, or x-ray of blood vessels
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Ultrasound of the carotid artery, or major blood vessels in the neck
These tests allow us to determine if there are blockages in blood vessels of the neck or brain. A primary focus in the early stages after a stroke is to determine why the stroke happened in the first place. If we can find and treat the root cause, we can then work to increase the chance of preventing an additional stroke.
Stroke Treatment and Rehabilitation
Treatment for Stroke
Rapid diagnosis and treatment are critical to get you or your loved one on the road to recovery after a stroke. Stamford Health’s Stroke Center offers state of the art treatment for all types of strokes including ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, Transient ischemic attack (TIA) and Moyamoya disease.
Life-saving Treatment with Thrombectomy
A thrombectomy is a minimally-invasive procedure that removes a blood clot from a brain artery. This procedure, often used in conjunction with medication, has been proven to save lives and improve recovery for patients who experience an ischemic stroke. Leading-edge technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) software allows your neurointerventional radiologist to capture clear images of your brain, including the area affected by the stroke and the location of the blood clot. Your providers analyze these images and decide if thrombectomy is right for you. This rapid imaging scan allows physicians to quickly and precisely make a decision about treatment – which can help improve your recovery and outcome. Stamford Health is the first in lower Fairfield County to provide thrombectomy with the RAPID CT scan technology. During the procedure, your physician inserts a catheter (thin, flexible and hollow tube) into the blocked blood vessel. A stent retriever removes the blood clot and allows blood to flow freely to the brain once again. Thrombectomy can help improve the outcomes of patients who experienced a stroke.
Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA) to Reduce Symptoms, Improve Recovery
Tissue plasminogen activator (more commonly known as a tPA) is a clot-busting drug that, when administered shortly after stroke symptoms begin, can reduce symptoms, save lives and improve outcomes for stroke survivors. This FDA-approved drug is administered through an IV, typically into the arm. tPA dissolves the clot to restore blood flow to the affected area of the brain. The medication can only safely be given within hours after stroke symptoms appear, so swift medical attention and diagnosis are critical to getting the care and treatment you, or your loved one, need.
Rehabilitation for Stroke
Stamford Health is committed to improving the lives of individuals recovering from a stroke. Our Van Munching inpatient acute rehabilitation program is designed to help stroke patients regain their independence and ability to perform daily activities. The interdisciplinary rehabilitation team brings together supportive, licensed healthcare professionals including physicians, nurses, therapists, case managers and hospital neurologists. We regularly monitor each patient’s progress and adjust treatment and rehabilitation plans whenever needed. Continuity of care is important during recovery and patients in the hospital will see the same neurologist during their stay. Our comprehensive rehabilitation program is designed to meet individual patient goals and achieve the greatest level of independence for stroke survivors. Patients may access clinical activities and services based on their medical condition. These include:
- Cognition testing
- Nutritional counseling
- Patient and family education
- Physical and occupational therapy assessments
- Prosthetic and orthotic fitting
- Speech and language evaluations
- Discharge planning and community resource coordination.