Stroke

UW Medicine’s commitment to stroke treatment

Each year, approximately 800,000 Americans suffer a stroke. The faster you receive treatment following a stroke, the better your chances of survival and recovery. At UW Medicine, our stroke care experts and emergency departments are ready to respond 24/7 with treatments that can save your life and prevent disability. By providing patients with the highest quality care, from diagnosis to rehabilitation, our care shows that when minutes count, you can count on UW Medicine.

Know the warning signs of stroke

Know the warning signs of a stroke

When every second counts, BE FAST to protect your brain.

Symptoms of a stroke typically appear as face drooping, arm weakness and slurred speech, among other symptoms. Timing is critical: There is a small window of time to treat strokes.

Warning signs:

B - Balance
E - Eyes
F - Face drooping
A - Arm weakness
S - Speech difficulty
T - Terrible headache

Call 9-1-1 immediately if you think you or your loved one is having a stroke. Do not drive to the hospital. It is safer and potentially faster for an ambulance to take you.

Conozca las señales

Reconocer los síntomas de un accidente cerebrovascular podría significar la diferencia entre la vida y la muerte. Llame de inmediato al 911 si cree que usted o su ser querido está teniendo un accidente cerebrovascular. No maneje hacia el hospital. Es más seg uro y potencialmente más rápido si la ambulancia lo lleva.

Award-winning stroke care in Washington

Harborview Medical Center earned the Get With The Guidelines^®-Stroke Gold Plus Award — and the Target: Stroke Elite Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll designation — from the American Heart Association (AHA). This confirms we comply with strict processes and procedures proven to improve stroke outcomes.

Our Comprehensive Stroke Center at Harborview Medical Center provides patients with the highest quality care, from diagnosis to rehabilitation. Our vascular specialists collaborate with specialists at UW Medical Center and Valley Medical Center, and hospitals throughout Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming to provide lifesaving care for patients who have suffered a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) or who are at risk for stroke or TIA.

There are two kinds of stroke: ischemic and hemorrhagic.

Ischemic stroke

This is the most common type of stroke and occurs when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked from either a blood clot or a buildup of fatty deposits and cholesterol. This buildup is called plaque. Chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and atrial fibrillation, are the main risk factors for this type of stroke.

Hemorrhagic stroke

This occurs when a blood vessel in or around your brain bursts, spilling blood into nearby tissues. With this type of stroke, pressure builds up in the nearby brain tissue, which causes damage and irritation. This is a less common type of stroke, as only about 13 in 100 strokes are this type, but is usually more severe than ischemic stroke. The most common causes for this type of stroke are high blood pressure, aneurysms and blood thinners.

Top risk factors for stroke

Risk factors for stroke that can be controlled:

High blood pressure
Heart disease or abnormal heart rhythm
Diabetes
Smoking
Lack of exercise
Obesity

Risk factors for stroke that can’t be controlled:

Old age
Gender
Heredity or genetics
History of prior stroke
Race
Climate

Treatments

Treatment is most effective when started right away. Our emergency treatments and procedures after a stroke may include:

Clot-busting medicines (thrombolytics or fibrinolytics)
Medicines and therapy to reduce or control brain swelling
Neuroprotective medicines
Life-support measures
Craniotomy

UW Medicine Stroke Club — a virtual stroke support group

This monthly support group is for stroke survivors, their family members and caregivers. It is designed to lay the foundation for recovery and transition into life after a stroke. Learn from UW Medicine stroke care team members about risk factors, social resources and life after discharge.

This is a recurring meeting every second Tuesday of the month.

Tuesday, January 9th	6pm
Tuesday, February 13th	12pm
Tuesday, March 12th	6pm
Tuesday, April 9th	12pm
Tuesday, May 14th	6pm
Tuesday, June 11th	12pm
Tuesday, July 9th	6pm
Tuesday, August 13th	12pm
Tuesday, September 10th	6pm
Tuesday, October 8th	12pm
Tuesday, November 12th	6pm
Tuesday, December 10th	12pm

Join the Zoom meeting instructions Virtual Stroke Club w Zoom instructions.pdf

Meeting ID: 778 829 3310

Questions? Call 206.744.3975 or email stroke@uw.edu

UW Medicine’s stroke care excellence

Harborview Medical Center is a designated Comprehensive Stroke Center (CSC) by the Joint Commission. The Joint Commission awards "comprehensive" status only to those centers that have demonstrated the ability to:

Provide advanced stroke care and therapies around the clock for all stroke patients including those with the most complex stroke conditions
Participate in a rigorous on-site review with a thorough examination of the program by the Joint Commission
Consistently meet or exceed quality patient care outcome standards
Maintain the significant differences in resources, staff and training that are necessary for the treatment of complex stroke cases
Maintain a robust stroke care quality and safety review program
Actively participate in stroke research

Harborview offers a full range of services, 24/7/365. In addition, Valley Medical Center and UW Medical Center - Northwest have earned Primary Stroke Center Gold Seal Certification. This means they are equipped to diagnose and treat most strokes quickly and safely, 24/7/365.

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT: 206.744.6285

Remember, if you or a loved one is experiencing any signs of a stroke, call 911.

Our certified stroke center locations