Centers of Excellence

The most frequent emergency seen at St. Alexius Medical Center is chest pain. Heart attacks and Strokes are life threatening emergencies.

Symptoms that indicate an emergency:

• chest pain, which may or may not be associated with shortness of breath
• pain radiating into the neck, jaw, back or down the arms
• light-headed or dizziness
• cold and sweaty

Advances within the medical field have made it possible to save the life of the patient when medical attention is sought quickly.

Not all warning signs occur in every stroke! Stroke is the number three killer of Americans and the leading cause for disability in adults. The St. Alexius Stroke Center is prepared to provide state-of-the-art care to patients who are experiencing stroke symptoms.

The warning signs may also go away, so it is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms. Symptoms related to a stroke include, but are not limited to:

• Dizziness
• Tingling or numbness on one side of the body or in a particular area
• Unexplained confusion
• Difficulty in speech
• Loss of vision or change in eye sight that can not be explained

Again, medical advances have increased the chances of recovery greatly when proper medications and treatment is administered quickly after warning signs are present.

Dial 9-1-1 immediately if you or a family member experience any of the above signs! A patient’s chance of recovery are greatly increased when proper medication and care is received. Medical advances provide more treatment options than patients had years ago.