Urgent & Emergency Care for Strokes & Seizures

When to See Us for Strokes

A stroke is the brain’s equivalent of a heart attack. It occurs when the blood supply to the brain is suddenly cut off, leading to cell damage, physical and mental impairment, unconsciousness, paralysis, and sometimes death. Any stroke is a serious medical concern and should be treated as an emergency. If you or a loved one is having a stroke the need for medical intervention is immediate.

What Are the Symptoms of a Stroke?

The time sensitivity of having a stroke means that awareness of symptoms is unusually important. A useful acronym for stroke symptoms is BE FAST, in which each letter stands for one of the common symptoms:

• Balance: A stroke often leads to headaches, dizziness, and disorientation, which makes it difficult to maintain one’s balance.
• Eyes: Stroke victims frequently experience blurred or double vision.
• Face: Facial droop is another common symptom of a stroke. One side of a person’s face will hang lower than the other.
• Arms: Arm weakness can indicate a stroke. The stroke victim will be unable to lift one or both arms over his or her head. 
• Speech: Stroke victims can have difficulty speaking or understanding what’s being said to them.
• Time: Time is critical with strokes. You need to seek emergency care right away when you recognize someone with the BE FAST symptoms.

When brain cells die, there’s no replacing them. Get to an emergency room as quickly as possible. We can make a difference at Baptist Health ER & Urgent Care.

When to See Us for Seizures

A seizure is a medical condition in which persons exhibit uncontrolled or convulsive muscular activity, in conjunction with excessive electrical activity in the brain. Seizures vary in their intensity, from highly demonstrative to more subtle and difficult to detect. Most are over quickly. Symptoms may include:

• Anxiety attacks or states of déjà vu
• Blank staring
• Confusion or disorientation
• Loss of consciousness
• Spasmodic shaking.

The medical disorder most associated with seizures is epilepsy but there are other sources of seizures as well. Regardless of cause, anyone experiencing a seizure should undergo medical evaluation. In some cases, seizures are life-threatening and require emergency treatment. These include:

• Having multiple seizures in a short period of time
• Experiencing trouble breathing or a related respiratory problem
• Losing consciousness or getting injured by uncontrolled muscle movements
• Undergoing a seizure for five or more minutes.

Can Baptist Health ER & Urgent Care Help with Seizures?

Yes. All our physicians are fully trained in emergency-medical procedures, including the care of patients with seizures. We can administer antiseizure medications to end the immediate crisis. When the patient is stabilized, we’ll investigate cause by asking questions, analyzing the brain’s electrical activity with an electroencephalogram (EEG), or using imaging technology, such as CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, to look for additional clues. Seizures can be frightening but we’re your healthcare ally, helping you understand and manage a potentially serious medical issue.