Stroke Center at St. Joseph's Medical Center - Stockton, CA

Stroke prevention is accomplished by eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of regular exercise, limiting alcohol consumption, and avoiding smoking. If a peson has had a stroke, treatment includes breaking up and removing the blood clot, repairing the damage, and providing supportive care and rehabilitation that includes phsycial therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy

Heart rhythms assessment and treatment begins with using a variety of tests, such as an electrocardiogram or an achogardiogram, to diagnose the underlying cause of your abnormal heart rhythm. Medications, the use of an implanted device, or the surgical repair of nerves can help treat and manage abnormal heart rhythms.

Rehabilitation and therapy services include inpatient and outpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology services. These services are provided to people who are recovering from an injury or illness or have a chronic health condition or disability.

Patient and family education involves ensuring patients and their families have all the information they need in the appropriate format so they can make informaed decisions regardign treatment and so they can ensure adequate post-surgical care.

A stroke health assessment is done based on the criteria laid out by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). These criteria include checking for facial numbness, arm numbeness or weakness, slurred speech. If a stroke is suspected, it will be diagnosed using blood tests, a CT scan or MRI of the brain, an EKG, a carotid ultrasound, and a cerebral angiogram