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Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital delivers leading stroke care for patients during crisis and beyond

By: Amy Barnett and Alex Hebert
| Published 10/29/2019

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THE WOODLANDS, TX – Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital recognizes October 29, 2019, as World Stroke Day – a day of awareness for the urgency to take action toward stroke prevention.

“Stroke is the second leading cause of death and the no. 1 cause of disability worldwide,” said Nhu Bruce, M.D., neurologist and medical director of the stroke program at Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital. “The ability to recognize the signs of stroke and act immediately can make all the difference for a stroke victim.”

One tool that can help is the BE FAST test:

B – Balance. Watch for sudden loss of balance.

E – Eyes. Check for vision loss.



F — Face Drooping. Is one side of the face drooping or numb? Ask the person to smile.

A — Arm Weakness. Is one arm or leg weak and numb, especially on one side? Ask the person

to raise both arms.

S — Speech Difficulty. Is the speech slurred? Can the person speak clearly, or do they seem

confused? Ask them to repeat a simple phrase.

T — Time to call 911. With even one of these signs, and even if the symptom goes away – get to

the hospital immediately.

“Other stroke symptoms can include persistent neck pain and dizziness,” said Bruce. “Time is of the essence for a stroke victim. The faster we reverse this process, the higher the likelihood of improvement.”

Less than a year after the hospital opened, the accrediting body DNV GL Healthcare designated Houston Methodist The Woodlands as a certified primary stroke center. And in 2019, the American Heart Association bestowed the Honor Elite Gold Plus award to the hospital. The hospital manages all aspects of stroke care from the FDA-approved clot-buster, Alteplase and mechanical clot removal – to cutting-edge techniques in neurosurgery, such as the WEB device for intracranial aneurysm.

Bruce added that hospital policies and procedures are in place to ensure expeditious evaluation and treatment of patients who present with stroke. The hospital has also worked with local EMS to train their staff on how to identify stroke faster.

Marquis Clarke, a young mother of two, is living proof of how quickly and unexpectedly stroke can impact anyone’s life. Clarke began her day one Friday morning like any other, at home with her children. She was a 28-year-old woman with no known health conditions. Then everything changed for Clarke and her family. Clarke experienced three strokes that day. Now well on the way to recovery, Clarke is grateful she swiftly recognized something was wrong.

“I was taken to Houston Methodist by ambulance to the ER,” Clarke recalls. “I was quickly evaluated for stroke. My initial CT scan was completed within minutes, then I received my diagnosis just as quickly.”

The angiogram revealed Clarke had stroke activity in multiple areas of the brain.

“Both of her vertebral arteries were dissected,” Bruce said. “This is rare, especially in young people.”

The stroke team immediately began treating Clarke.

“Every step of the way, my doctors and nurses were quick, efficient, thorough and very caring,” said Clarke. “What I remember is finally feeling safe. They took time to explain everything to me and made me as comfortable as possible. My team created a clear path for recovery and gave me confidence.”

Clarke, her family and the Houston Methodist The Woodlands stroke team are working together throughout the healing process. “I have recently started to somewhat feel normal again at times,” Clarke added. “I have good days and bad days. Thankfully, the good are starting to outnumber the bad.”

Bruce, who continues to lead Clarke’s care team said, “Marquis is doing very well and we expect her to continue to improve. She may not have realized she was having a stroke, but she knew something was wrong and did exactly what she was supposed to do – call for help and get to the hospital.”

The hospital’s comprehensive stroke team includes resources and healthcare professionals in vascular neurology, radiology, neurosurgery, hospital and ICU medicine along with support staff including a stroke coordinator, nurses and technicians.

Recognizing the ongoing need of stroke patients and their families, beginning January 2020, Houston Methodist The Woodlands will offer a free stroke support group on the hospital campus on the third Wednesday of each month, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. For more information, call 936.206.4986.

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