The North Cypress Medical Center's Stroke Center, part of our 24-Hour Emergency Care Facility, is dedicated to treating stroke victims in the Houston area. At North Cypress Medical Center we understand that when you or a loved one has suffered a stroke, there is not a moment to spare. Timely intervention at a state-of- the-art facility such as the Stroke Center can make all the difference. At the Stroke Center, our neurologists and neurosurgery specialists work with our emergency room doctors to quickly diagnose and treat patients who come in with stroke symptoms. Our specialists use the latest medical therapies including thrombolysis – clot-busting medications - to treat stroke patients. Our intensive care unit also provides a 20-bed fully staffed Intensive Care Unit trained to provide critical care following the initial treatment of life threatening illnesses such as stroke. And all of these emergency stroke treatments are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The North Cypress Medical Center's Stroke Center has been accredited by the Joint Commission, and designated a Primary Stroke Center. This means we have been recognized for excellence in treatment protocols and patient care.
The Stroke Center is part of our commitment to "5-Star Care", and to serving the medical needs of Houston and the surrounding communities.
Identifying a Stroke
Stroke is the number three cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of serious disability. It is vital that people know and can identify the warning signs. Immediate action by others can greatly reduce the severity and residual effects of the stroke.
Stroke Warning Signs
The American Stroke Association lists the following as the warning signs of stroke:
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
As with a heart attack, minutes matter with a stroke. If you or a loved one exhibits any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately. It is important that you check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared. If given within three hours of the start of symptoms, it is possible for a clot-busting drug called tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) to reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke. TPA is the only FDA-approved medication for the treatment of stroke within three hours of stroke symptom onset.
