ROCK HILL, S.C., - Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the US. Every 40 seconds, someone in the US has a stroke and every 3 minutes and 14 seconds, someone dies of stroke. That’s why seeking timely treatment is critical. Piedmont Medical Center Rock Hill is a Joint Commission Accredited Primary Stroke Center with American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get with the Guidelines-Stroke® Gold Plus and Target Stroke Achievement Award. This certification recognizes our medical professionals’ utilization of best practices to achieve long-term success in improving our patients’ health outcomes.

“Time is brain critical in the treatment of stroke. With early intervention, our dedicated stroke team can help patients maintain their quality of life after a stroke”, says Teresa Urquhart, Market CEO of Piedmont Medical Center Rock Hill, and Piedmont Medical Fort Mill. “We encourage community members to know stroke warning signs, and to seek treatment immediately.”

“Stroke Awareness Month is an important time to remember that every second counts when it comes to recognizing the signs of stroke,” said Piedmont Medical Center’s Stroke Medical Director, Dr. Nick Demers. “Knowing the signs and risks factors is key to the chance of survival. Studies show Americans who have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoke, are obese, or have diabetes are at greater risk of a stroke. Our stroke team is here for our community members to provide advanced care to those impacted by stroke and I hope this month draws more attention to just how dangerous stroke can be.”

The American Heart Association offers a simple test called BE FAST. It is important to keep in mind if you think you or a loved one is having a stroke:

• Balance Off
• Eyesight Changes
  
  
• Face Droops
• Arm Weakness
• Speech Slurred
• Time to Call 911

To assess more information on stroke, take our free quiz at https://www.piedmontmedicalcenter.com/health-assessments/stroke-quiz.