MedStar St. Mary's Hospital
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Why choose us
MedStar St. Mary's Hospital is a full-service community hospital that upholds its tradition of caring by continuously promoting, maintaining, and improving health. Whether you require emergency or surgical care, imaging and X-rays, physical therapy, or many services in between, our hospital places a priority on delivering a safe and positive healthcare experience.
Founded in 1912, our hospital is a not-for-profit facility delivering emergency, acute inpatient, and outpatient care. Our committed healthcare providers and team members strive to put the patient first in every way.
We are committed to nurturing new providers to offer convenient access to specialty care close to home. Through the MedStar Health network, we are closely tied to academic hospitals, including MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and MedStar Washington Hospital Center; patients can be quickly transported if a higher level of care is needed.
We have received eight "A" grades for patient safety from the Leapfrog Group's Hospital Safety Survey. Our hospital has less layers of personnel, so we are often nimbler to change—and have participated in many trials for products and protocols under consideration for all of MedStar Health.
Visiting our hospital
Nestled in the waterside community of Leonardtown, we are a full-service hospital, delivering state-of-the-art emergency, acute inpatient, and outpatient care. Check out the door-to-door directions, parking information, and satellite locations.
Patient and visitor information
To help ensure that your needs are met during your stay/visit at our hospital, here’s all you need to know about accommodations, your healthcare team, patient rights and responsibilities, advance directives, and more.
Patient experience
We offer quality care in a friendly, comfortable environment that is respectful of others, and provide the information that you and your family need to partner with us in your health care. The information below is designed to help you become familiar with our hospital and related services to make your stay safe, pleasant, and as comfortable as possible.
Insurance
MedStar Health participates with most major health insurance plans. Please contact your insurance company to make sure your plan is covered.
Meet our providers
With innovative technology and a dedication to excellence, our staff is committed to providing you and your family with quality medical care.
Commitment to Health Equity
Health inequities reflect a complex web of systemic factors that exist nationally and can negatively impact the health of historically marginalized communities.
We believe every person deserves an equal opportunity to achieve their highest level of health, and we will be bold in addressing health inequities impacting our communities by ensuring an inclusive experience, delivering high-quality and safe care equitably, and giving support to those who face social barriers to living their healthiest life possible.
Commitment to Patient Safety
At MedStar Health, we are committed to delivering the highest levels of quality and safety to our patients. Your safety is our number one focus, and we know that focus will also result in the highest quality of care.
Explore Nursing at MedStar St Mary's Hospital
Share your story
Did a physician, nurse, caregiver, or other staff member make a difference for you or your loved one during your stay with us? Here is your chance to recognize him or her.
Send your comments to patientexperiencemsmh@medstar.net.
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Our blog posts
Uterine Fibroid Embolization Stops Uncomfortable Symptoms at the Source.
Most women have uterine fibroids—non-cancerous, hormone-driven growths that form on the uterine walls. In fact, more than 70% of white women and 80% of black women will develop fibroids by age 49.
Fibroids can range in size from very small to very large and result in a variety of symptoms based on their size and location. Women often start developing fibroids in their 30s or 40s, and growth can continue through menopause.
More than half of patients with fibroids experience uncomfortable or painful symptoms such as:
- Abdominal bloating
- Constipation
- Dyspareunia (inability to orgasm)
- Pain during sex
- Pelvic pain and pressure
- Urinary frequency
- Very heavy periods
These changes aren’t a “fact of life” that women should have to deal with as we age. Effective treatments such as uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) help by stopping fibroid discomfort at the source. Through a small incision in your wrist, an interventional radiologist is able to stop blood flow to the fibroid and reduce symptoms as the fibroid shrinks and fades away.
Over the past few decades, advances in minimally invasive artery embolization have transformed UFE into a safer, more effective outpatient procedure with a quick recovery—most patients are fully recovered within two weeks.
Read More
Stroke Know the Warning Signs
As the command center for every system in the body, a healthy brain requires a lot of blood to stay functional; in fact, every minute, it makes use of ¼ of the blood pumped by the heart. A diminished blood supply (for example, caused by a blood clot) starves the brain of oxygen, and brain tissue begins to die—a condition we recognize as stroke.
Stroke is the fifth most common cause of death in the United States (and number two worldwide). It occurs suddenly and often leaves very little time for effective medical intervention.
This deadly byproduct of cardiovascular disease affects over two million Americans each year, and 150,000 of those affected do not survive. Among the survivors, nearly eight million Americans must live with the aftereffects: often irreversible damage that impacts their daily lives.
And stroke is not necessarily a disease of older age—risk factors are increasing across all age groups, particularly younger adults. Our best defense is prevention.
Time Is Brain
What causes a stroke? There are two types of stroke:
- Ischemic stroke is similar to heart attack: an artery supplying the brain with blood is blocked, usually by a clot, resulting in tissue death. Ischemic stroke is four times more common than hemorrhagic stroke.
- In hemorrhagic stroke, a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and bleeds. Brain tissue is damaged as blood accumulates where it doesn’t belong.
The moment that a stroke begins, the clock is ticking. Damage sweeps very rapidly through the affected area of the brain, so the faster medical attention can be given, the more likely we are to save brain function and avoid devastating consequences for the patient.
Without treatment, brain tissue can be damaged beyond repair in about 4½ hours. Surviving stroke victims may suffer from paralysis, numbness, or weakness on one side of the body, creating difficulty in walking and use of the hands. Stroke can also affect speech, swallowing, memory, learning, and emotional health.
Stroke recovery is typically very slow and often limited. The brain cannot heal the injured tissue—stroke damage is permanent. In many cases, some areas of surviving brain tissue can learn new skills and compensate. But that rewiring typically takes six to eight months—and full functional recovery is rare.
The moment that stroke strikes, the clock is ticking. The more quickly it is treated, the less likely the patient will experience serious consequences. Dr. Yongwoo Kim explains the signs. https://bit.ly/3ekbpXD via @MedStarWHC
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Symptoms of Stroke: BE FAST
In some patients, a small blood clot may cause what we refer to as a mini-stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which behaves almost the same way that a larger stroke does. However, mini-stroke symptoms may subside very quickly, often in as little as five minutes.
TIA is a warning sign that a larger stroke may be imminent. Consider it a medical emergency and get the medical attention needed to prevent a larger event.
If or when that larger event occurs, urgent action is vital to preserve brain tissue. Stroke rarely produces pain, so look instead for these five classic stroke symptoms that happen suddenly. Use the acronym BE FAST to remember what to look for.
The BE FAST Checklist
Call 911 immediately if any of these stroke symptoms suddenly occurs:
B—Balance: leaning, staggering, or difficulty walking
E—Eyes: any visual impairment of one or both eyes, including visual field narrowing, blurry or double vision, or one eye not moving normally
F—Face: drooping on one side or a lopsided smile
A—Arms: weakness on one side, such as inability to fully raise the arm or hold onto something
S—Speech: speech is slurred or hard to understand, or the patient is inarticulate, unable to make meaningful conversation
T—Time: act immediately if you see or experience one or more of the symptoms above. Call 911 and get to a hospital as quickly as possible, where emergency treatment can begin.
Treatment
For a stroke victim who reaches the hospital quickly, treatment involves recanalization—opening vessels to restore blood flow.
We first complete a thorough neurological exam, and may order emergency radiology imaging studies. We use CT and MRI to confirm stroke and assess any bleeding damage. We treat quickly, potentially using both drugs and surgery to clear a blocked blood vessel, depending on location and severity.
When a blood clot causes a small blockage, we use thrombolytic medications, also known as tPA or clot-busters, to get the blood flowing again. We perform surgery to stop bleeding in the case of hemorrhagic stroke, when a larger artery has ruptured. In some cases, catheterization alone may be effective—we can potentially pass a thin tube through a large blood vessel and navigate it to the site of the blockage.
Because about one in four stroke patients will suffer another stroke within five years, we typically prescribe antithrombotic medications such as aspirin to prevent clotting that may cause additional strokes. And after treatment and initial recovery, rehabilitation is typically recommended, to help the patient strengthen weakened muscles and improve swallowing, speech, and other critical functions.
Patients are in the best possible hands here at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. We are a Comprehensive Stroke Center, with an advanced care team that includes highly trained neurologists, neurosurgeons, emergency physicians, nurses, and rehabilitation professionals. Many of our team members participate in key research in the area of stroke.
The Hospital Center makes use of the latest and most effective medications, and offers advanced imaging technology focused specifically on diagnosing neurological problems. We are equipped to act in the shortest amount of time to achieve the best possible results for our stroke patients.
Prevention, the Best Medicine
Traditional stroke risks include high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, tobacco use, advanced age, and a prior stroke history. And recently, the COVID-19 virus has caused life-threatening clotting in some patients as well.
Managing your health and adopting a healthy lifestyle are the best ways to prevent stroke—and prevention is significantly better than treatment.
- Control weight gain—try to maintain a belly circumference of less than 34 inches.
- Exercise at moderate intensity for at least 30 minutes, three days per week.
- Avoid tobacco and illicit drugs.
- Drink alcohol in moderation.
- Eat nutritionally balanced meals that include more fruits and vegetables than meat and that minimize sodium and fat.
- Take all recommended precautions against COVID-19—mask up, practice social distancing, avoid crowds, isolate when ill, and get vaccinated.
- Schedule regular checkups with your primary care physician, who will work with you to manage any underlying conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, or clotting disorders.
Read MoreStretches and Exercises to Ease Shoulder Pain at Home.
We use our shoulders to do just about everything, from pushing and pulling to lifting and carrying. That’s why it’s common to feel tension—or even pain—in our shoulder joints, especially after doing the same motions over and over again.
While shoulder pain caused by an injury or trauma should be treated by a doctor specializing in orthopedics, there are stretches and exercises you can do at home to get rid of shoulder pain. Exercises that target the shoulders and surrounding muscles can strengthen and stabilize the joint, helping to relieve tightness, improve range of motion, and prevent injury.
Common causes of shoulder pain.
Proper shoulder movement requires supporting muscle groups to work together in a coordinated fashion. While shoulder pain can be caused by direct trauma to the shoulder, if the muscles and soft tissues that support the shoulder weaken, become stiff, or are injured, our shoulders become susceptible to injury.
There are a variety of causes of shoulder pain, but most conditions can be broken down into the following categories:
- Degenerative conditions that occur gradually over time as a result of wear and tear, such as arthritis.
- Chronic or overuse conditions that result from repetitive overhead motion such as throwing a baseball or painting the walls of a house.
- Acute injury and trauma after a direct blow to the shoulder or sudden forceful stretch during a fall, car accident, or other unexpected event.
Why it’s important to stretch your shoulders.
Stretching gets your blood flow circulating so you can safely and gradually improve motion and perform shoulder exercises. Shoulder exercises strengthen your shoulder muscles and encourage proper shoulder function, which helps you to:
- Improve flexibility
- Increase range of motion
- Stabilize the joint
- Prevent future injury
- Reduce muscle soreness
Exercises and stretches that can relieve shoulder pain.
These five easy shoulder stretches, along with a few exercises, can help you relieve shoulder pain at home with minimal equipment. Consider performing these stretches and exercises three to four days a week to maintain and improve shoulder motion, and gradually progress to the strengthening exercises to improve function. If you feel pain, stop the exercise and call a doctor specializing in orthopedics.
Stretches.
1. Pendulum
- Lean forward, placing your right hand on a counter or table for support. Allow your left arm to hang relaxed at your side.
- Gently swing your left arm forward and backward, side-to-side, and in a circular motion. Repeat the motion 10 times.
- Switch arms and repeat the sequence.
Repetitions: 2 sets of 10 on each side
Tip: Keep your back straight and your knees slightly bent.2. Crossover arm stretch
- With relaxed shoulders, gently pull your left arm across your chest.
- Hold your upper left arm using your right hand, pulling it until you feel the stretch at the back of your shoulder.
- Hold it for 30 seconds and then release it for 30 seconds.
- Perform the stretch three more times.
- Repeat with the opposite arm.
Repetitions: 4 on each side
Tip: Avoid putting pressure on your elbow.3. Table and wall slides
- Place both hands on a long table in front of you while sitting down and upright.
- Slide your hands together forwards along the table to gently stretch overhead as you lean forward.
- Hold the movement for 5 seconds once you reach your maximum stretch, then slowly return to the upright position.
- As you progress, move to a wall and try the overhead stretch while standing, using the wall to slide your hands along.
Repetitions: 3 sets of 10 slides
Tip: To make sliding easier, hold a towel or walk your fingers along the surface.4. Passive internal and external rotation stretch
Internal rotation
- Hold a yardstick, golf club, or other light stick behind your back with your left hand.
- Lightly grasp the end of the stick with your right hand.
- Gently pull the stick horizontally with your right hand until you feel a stretch in the front of your shoulder.
- Hold the stretch for 30 seconds. Release for 30 seconds.
- Repeat on the opposite side.
External rotation
- Grasp a broomstick, yardstick, golf club, or other light stick with your left hand in front of your body and the other end of the stick with your right hand.
- Push the stick horizontally with your right hand until you feel the stretch in the back of your shoulder.
- Hold the stretch for 30 seconds and then relax for 30 seconds.
- Repeat on the other side.
Repetitions: 4 of each on both sides
Tip: Keep hips facing forward and avoid leaning or twisting while pushing or pulling the stick.5. Sleeper stretch
- Lie down on your left side on a flat, firm surface.
- With your shoulder under you, bend your left arm at a 90-degree angle.
- Use your right arm to push your left arm down until you feel a stretch in the back of your left shoulder.
- Hold the movement for 30 seconds and then relax for 30 seconds.
- Switch sides and repeat.
Repetitions: 4 on each side
Tip: Avoiding pressing down on or bending your wrist.Strengthening exercises.
For each exercise, use light dumbbells that allow you to perform the minimum number of eight repetitions in a set. As the exercise gets easier, progress to three sets of 12 repetitions. Add weight in one-pound increments up to five pounds. Each time you increase weight, begin with three sets of eight repetitions before progressing to 12 repetitions.
1. Scapular retraction/protraction
- Lie down on a table or bed on your stomach. Let your arm hang over the side with a light dumbbell in your hand..
- Keep your elbow straight and squeeze your shoulder blade toward the opposite side of your body.
- Slowly return to the starting position and repeat.
- Switch sides.
Repetitions: 2 sets of 10 on each side
Tip: Be careful not to shrug your shoulder toward your ear.2. Forward elevation strength
- Hold light dumbbells in both hands with arms outstretched in front of you.
- Slowly raise both hands to a slightly overhead position at the same time.
- Slowly return to a resting position and repeat.
- As you get stronger, increase your weight while lowering the number of repetitions.
Repetitions: 3 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions on each side
Tip: As you get stronger, widen your hand position so they are raised approximately 6 to 12 inches outside of your shoulders.3. Trapezius strengthening
- Place your right knee on a bench, leaning forward to support your body with your right hand on the bench.
- With your left hand palm facing your body, slowly raise your left arm and rotate your hand to the thumbs-up position.
- Stop when your left hand reaches shoulder height and your arm is parallel to the floor.
- Count to five as you lower your left arm to the original position.
- Repeat on the opposite side.
Repetitions: 3 sets of 20 on each side
Tip: You can add light weight (2 to 3 lbs) to increase the difficulty as the exercise gets easier.4. Internal and external rotation strength
Internal rotation
- Make a loop with a 3-foot-long exercise band, tying the ends together. Attach the loop to a doorknob or other stable object.
- Hold the band with the hand closest to the loop with your elbow at your side and bent at a 90-degree angle.
- Keeping your elbow tight by your side, bring your arm across your body.
- Slowly return to the start position and repeat.
- Switch sides.
External rotation
- Using the same 3-foot-long loop attached to a doorknob or stable object, grasp the loop with the hand furthest from the loop.
- Keep your elbow tight by your side and bend it at a 90-degree angle.
- Slowly rotate your arm outward.
- Return to the start position and repeat.
- Switch sides.
Repetitions: 3 sets of 8 on each side
Tip: Keep your elbow pressed into your side. You can also do this exercise laying on your side, using light dumbbells to perform a similar motion as when using the bands.5. Bent-over horizontal abduction
- Lie down on a table or bed on your stomach. Let your arm hang over the side with a light dumbbell in your hand..
- Keep your arm straight and slowly raise the dumbbell to eye level.
- Slowly return to the starting position and repeat.
- Switch sides.
Repetitions: 3 sets of 8 on each side
Tip: Use slow and controlled movement when lowering the weight.6. Elbow flexion
- Stand tall with light dumbbells in each hand.
- Keeping your elbows close to your sides, bring the weight toward your shoulders.
- Hold for two seconds and slowly lower to the starting position.
- Repeat.
- Increase weight by 1-pound increments as the exercise gets easier.
Repetitions: 3 sets of 8 to 12 on each side
Tip: Use slow and controlled movement when lowering the weight.7. Elbow extension
- Stand tall with a light dumbbell in your left hand.
- Raise your left arm, bending your elbow behind your head. Support your left arm by grasping your upper arm with your right hand.
- Slowly straighten your elbow, bringing the weight overhead.
- Hold for two seconds and slowly lower to the starting position.
- Repeat.
- Increase weight by 1-pound increments as the exercise gets easier.
Repetitions: 3 sets of 8 to 12 on each side
Tip: Avoid arching your back by tightening your abdominal muscles.When to see a doctor for shoulder pain.
If you experienced a sudden injury or trauma to your shoulder, or your shoulder pain is worsening and affecting your sleep or quality of life, don’t wait to visit an experienced orthopedic expert.
A highly trained doctor specializing in orthopedics can accurately diagnose your shoulder pain and determine the best course of treatment. From non-invasive treatment options, such as icing, biologic injections, and physical therapy, to minimally invasive or complex surgery, you can count on the fellowship-trained orthopedic experts at MedStar Orthopaedic Institute at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital to get you back to the activities you enjoy without shoulder pain.
Is your shoulder pain getting worse? We can help.
Visit our orthopedic experts at MedStar Orthopaedic Institute in Leonardtown.Read More
PET Scans of the Heart: What You Need to Know
Cardiac PET scan technology promises to elevate cardiovascular diagnoses to a completely new level.
Positron emission tomography (or PET) is traditionally associated with cancer care. Oncology, in fact, is where the technology developed and advanced. But today, this type of scan can be applied to other areas of the body—and it’s becoming a real game-changer in cardiac care.
Most other forms of imaging technology unveil physical or anatomical structures in the body. For example, a traditional X-ray can show broken bones, blockages in the sinuses or disease in the lungs. Mammography uncovers breast disease. CT scans offer detailed imaging in the form of virtual slices of organs that can illustrate abnormalities like tumors and clots. MRI delivers even deeper detail, especially within soft tissue.
But this scan is different. It uses molecular imaging to determine function at the cellular level. In other words, where other imaging methods see physiology, PET sees biology and function.
Other imaging methods see physiology, PET sees biology—function at the cellular level. That’s bringing new accuracy to cardiac screening, says Dr. Carlos Garcia. https://bit.ly/2ZXxF3v via @MedStarWHC
How It Works
Like all living things, cells need food. Most of our cells run on glucose, a type of sugar, and cardiac muscle cells run on fatty acids. In nuclear imaging, we take advantage of that fuel cycle and use these nutrients as a carrier for a radiopharmaceutical, an indicator made with radioactive isotopes. As the cells consume the food, they absorb the radiopharmaceutical, and the camera technology tracks it in real time.
The level of radioactivity needed is relatively low, so the patient is exposed to minimal radiation. And as technology improves, dosages are decreasing. In fact, compared to other nuclear studies, the required dose may be up to two-thirds less. PET is safe and getting safer.
What It’s Best For
When it comes to cardiac imaging, this type of scan is well suited to assess perfusion—how well the coronary arteries supply oxygen to the heart muscle. It can also measure viability, determining which heart muscle cells are healthy and living if a heart attack or other damage has killed cells and created scar tissue. And, lastly, we can use it to assess disease processes infiltrating the heart muscle, especially diseases that cause cardiomyopathy.
Before this new technology was introduced, the gold standard for assessing blood flow was single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT). SPECT allows us to identify areas of the heart muscle that are not receiving an adequate blood supply. These will present as perfusion “defects” when the cells do not uptake the radiopharmaceutical. SPECT is still a very useful tool in the cardiologist’s toolbox. But PET does more.
SPECT can deliver equivocal results at times. For example, breast tissue can reduce the amount of activity captured by the camera. Increased body habitus or a buildup of fluid around the lungs, which often accompanies heart disease, can have a similar effect. PET, when combined with CT, can see through all those obstructions and gives the doctor more detailed data.
Measuring Blood Flow
Not only do the scans measure blood flow superior to SPECT, they can accurately measure coronary flow reserve, the body’s ability to maximize blood flow to the heart when oxygen demand rises, such as during exercise.
Oxygen is so critical that the body will adapt to narrowed arteries, rerouting blood through other vessels and even growing new vessels to replace blocked ones. But even with that remarkable response, flow can still be reduced at the capillary level—the tiniest blood vessels where oxygen molecules move from blood to cells. Other cardiac imaging studies cannot see that level of detail and may not show flow reduction at all. With PET, we can tell with great accuracy when cells are threatened by lack of oxygen.
With that level of detail, the technology can deliver a number of miraculous advances. One of the most impactful: the potential for early detection of coronary artery disease, even when no symptoms may be present.
Fighting Cardiomyopathy
This new scanning technology is also proving to be a powerful weapon against infiltrative cardiomyopathy, when foreign cells invade cardiac muscle tissue.
One cause of this cell invasion is sarcoidosis, a challenging autoimmune disease that can affect any organ in the body. Sarcoidosis is a hyper-immune response to inflammation that causes the body to over-produce immune cells. They clump together to form granulomas. In the heart and blood vessels, sarcoidosis can mimic traditional coronary artery disease—and do just as much damage. Once in the heart muscle, sarcoidosis can stiffen the tissue, making it less elastic and reducing pumping efficiency, called cardiomyopathy.
Over time, the invading cells displace healthy cardiac muscle and the heart has a harder time doing its job. This condition can look like full-blown congestive heart failure, with fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling of the extremities and fluid buildup.
Because PET shows what’s happening at the cellular level, we can use it to assess these disorders very accurately and determine treatment and management. As such, it is difficult for any study to be more accurate in identifying these kinds of problems.
What to Expect From a Scan
Every patient is unique and is asked to do some dietary preparation, depending on the study. Generally, this involves fasting—to make your cells hungry for glucose—or going on a low-carb/high-protein diet to keep the cells sensitive to fatty acids. The prep is very simple, and our staff calls every patient to review the instructions and answer questions.
When you arrive, we’ll start an IV to administer the radiotracer. You’ll have no dietary or exercise restrictions when you go home, but we will ask you to drink extra fluids to flush the tracer out of your system. An average stay is around two hours, including prep, the study and discharge.
Looking Ahead
PET will become even better over time.
The perfusion radiopharmaceuticals we use today are very short-lived, lasting only about 75 seconds. So we cannot, for example, run a scan while the patient is on a treadmill, as we do in a traditional stress test. However, Fluorine-18 Flurpiridaz, a new agent that will likely gain FDA approval next year, will make scanning even more versatile, as it will last up to two hours in the body and enable stress testing. It also binds to mitochondria—the batteries that power every cell—which will help increase the accuracy of the tests. And it will likely cost less than the agents in use today.
The MedStar Washington Hospital Center Difference
At the Hospital Center, our patients have access to state-of-the-art nuclear and molecular technology like cardiac PET—not every medical center offers this technology. Our team of full-time nuclear medicine experts are at the leading edge of this specialty and fully dedicated to it.
We focus on our patients’ peace of mind. We know that being placed inside a large, unfamiliar machine can cause apprehension, and we work hard to make the experience as comfortable as possible.
Our team members take pride in treating every patient like a member of their own family. When you come to the Hospital Center for a nuclear medicine study, you’re not a stranger. We are friendly, welcoming, accessible and reassuring, helping to put every patient at ease.
This is possible thanks to our truly collaborative culture. Each member of our team is like a member of an orchestra. We play our hearts out, doing our absolute best to make the music that will create the wonderful symphony that will be your experience.
And our patients respond well to that.
Concerns of the heart?
Learn more about PET scans from our experts.
Call 202-644-9526 or Request an Appointment
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Use This Checklist to BE FAST If Stroke Symptoms Strike
If you or someone you know experiences the first symptom of a stroke, it’s critical to take action quickly. An immediate call to 911 can mean the difference between life and death, so don’t wait. Stroke is a leading cause of death in the United States, as well as the number one cause of serious long-term disability.
To remember exactly what to do if you suspect a stroke—and to get help right away—use the download included with this blog post to create your personal BE FAST Stroke Checklist. The checklist includes essential information about what to do and gives you a place to record important information you’ll need to share with emergency medical personnel—so you don’t waste precious time.
Simply download the checklist, fill it out, and store it where you can access it quickly if needed.
To remember exactly what to do if you suspect a #stroke—and to get help right away—download this stroke checklist, suggests Dr. Yongwoo Kim. https://bit.ly/3fFUGxZ @MedStarWHC
Frequently, a stroke will happen without warning, but here are some main risk factors to be aware of:
- Being age 65 or older (nearly 75% of strokes occur in this age group, and risk increases with age)
- Having a history of previous stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), or heart attack
- Having health conditions including high blood pressure, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, high cholesterol, or other heart or vascular disease
- Smoking, drug use (particularly cocaine), lack of exercise, and/or excess weight
- Having a family history of stroke or ethnicity (African Americans and Native Americans are at higher risk than white, Hispanic, or Asian Americans)
Signs of a Stroke
If you or someone else suddenly displays any of these signs (even one), call 911 immediately.
Balance—Is there a sudden loss of balance or coordination? Is the person leaning to one side or staggering when walking?
Eyes—Is vision suddenly blurred, doubled, or otherwise impaired in one or both eyes?
Face—Is one side drooping or numb? Ask the person to smile to see if it’s uneven.
Arm—Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms to see if one drifts downward.
Speech—Is speech slurred or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, such as “The sky is blue.”
Time to call 911—Get immediate medical attention, even for one of these symptoms, and even if it/they go away. Do not drive to the emergency room.
Why Acting Fast Is So Important
Most strokes occur when the body produces a blood clot that travels and then lodges in one of the brain’s blood vessels. When a clot blocks the flow of blood, the affected brain tissue begins to die rapidly. Every second, millions of brain cells die. Within about 4.5 hours from the onset of that blockage, there will be no brain cells alive to save.
That’s why it’s so important to act quickly! You must get treatment—either intravenous medicine or surgery—to clear the blockage as soon as possible. As doctors, we say, “time is brain": every minute counts toward saving as many brain cells as possible.
To get proper treatment as fast as possible, always call 911 when you suspect a stroke. Emergency medical responders can assess you and alert the hospital of your stroke status, so the medical staff is prepared to act as soon as you arrive. And an ambulance can get you there most quickly. In a few cities today, ambulance workers are even equipped to perform some initial imaging while you’re headed to the hospital, helping to save even more precious time and brain cells.
Be Ready to Share the Following Information
For the 911 operator
- The word “stroke”: Be immediately clear that the affected person (you or someone you’re with) might be having a “stroke.” That insight will immediately tell the dispatcher what kind of help to send. Remember: 911 centers often handle more than medical emergencies.
- Your address, including cross streets or landmarks if it’s hard to find: Make it as easy as possible for an ambulance driver to find you.
For the emergency medical responders
- Details about the stroke symptom(s), including the time they started: The exact start time is key to helping doctors know what treatments may work best for the patient. If you’re not sure, tell the response team the last time things seemed normal (e.g., just before going to bed last night at 11 p.m.)
With the hospital medical team
- Current list of medicines, conditions, and details of recent surgeries or hospitalizations: Having this list handy can help emergency physicians more quickly determine how best to assess and treat the affected person
What to Do—and Not Do—While Waiting for Help
DO:
- Unlock the front door
- Secure any dogs or other pets that might get in the way
- Turn on an outside light by your front entrance
- Stay calm and by the affected person’s side
DO NOT:
- Offer the affected person any food or drink
- Give the affected person any medicines, especially not aspirin. While most strokes are caused by blood clots, some are caused by a broken vessel that causes the brain to bleed. In that case, aspirin could be harmful.
How to Choose a Preferred Hospital Stroke Center for After-Stroke Care
When it comes to stroke, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. To identify causes of your stroke and to establish the best stroke prevention, make sure to choose a hospital recognized as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by The Joint Commission—a prestigious designation that MedStar Washington Hospital Center (along with several other U.S. hospitals) has earned for its focus on providing a high level of care for patients with the most severe and challenging types of strokes.
Do some research and ask your healthcare providers which stroke centers in your area have an established track record for high-quality, cutting-edge stroke care. You should also consider a hospital within your health insurance network.
Industry awards are another good indicator of quality. MedStar Washington Hospital Center has earned several of these, including a recent Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award and Target: Stroke Honor Roll from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Our center earned these special recognitions 1) for our exceptional speed in treating eligible patients with essential clot-busting therapies once they arrived and 2) for being one of the few stroke centers in the country to employ a dedicated brain MRI machine to more accurately assess incoming stroke patients and identify optimal treatments for them.
I invite you to learn more about our Comprehensive Stroke Center Program here.
Be prepared in case of stroke.
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