Stroke Symptoms

Bourbon Community Hospital is a Stroke Ready facility that specializes in diagnosing and treating stroke patients. In collaboration with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, achieving Acute Stroke Ready Hospital (ASRH) Certification means we're dedicated to providing stroke care to our community. This patient-centric approach is better for our patients, their families and our community.

• Emergency Services - performs rapid identification of strokes and provides current treatment options. 
• Diagnostic Imaging - provides emergent CT scanning 24/7.  Able to perform Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
• Rehabilitation Services - provides physical, occupational, and speech therapy in the hospital and outpatient setting.

Experiencing stroke symptoms? Call 9-1-1 immediately!

B.E. F.A.S.T. is an easy way to remember the sudden signs of stroke. When you can spot the signs, you'll know that you need to call 9-1-1 for help right away.

B.E. F.A.S.T. is:

 Balance loss – Does the person have a sudden loss of balance?

Eyesight changes – Has the person lost vision in one or both eyes?

Face Drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?

 Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

 Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a sentence like "The sky is blue." Is it repeated correctly?

 Time to call 9-1-1 – If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared.

Other Stroke Symptoms

• • • Sudden confusion
    • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
    • Sudden trouble walking or loss of balance
    • Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

Learn more stroke signs and symptoms.

Need directions to the ER? Get Directions

Stroke Prevention

• Know your blood pressure. High blood pressure is the biggest stroke risk factor if left untreated.
• Identify atrial fibrillation (AFib). Irregular heart beats may cause clots to form in the heart, which can lead to a stroke.
• Stop smoking. Smoking doubles the risk of stroke.
• Control diabetes. Make sure your blood sugar level is under control and follow doctor’s advice.
• Know your cholesterol number. Control with diet, exercise, and possibly medication.
• Exercise. Eat healthy and increase your activity. 30 minutes of exercise for five or more days each week is recommended.
• Recognize and treat sleep apnea. Individuals with sleep apnea have double the risk of stroke than those without sleep apnea.
• Manage diet/decrease salt intake. Eat healthy, cutting down on salt and fat in your diet.
• Decrease alcohol intake. Heavy drinking can increase the risk for stroke

Quality Emergency Care, Close to Home

Bourbon Community Hospital is an affiliate of UK HealthCare’s Stroke Care Network. Our two clinical teams work hand in hand to provide the highest quality stroke care with better outcomes for our patients.