Neurological Services

At Morton Plant North Bay Hospital, we are qualified to provide complete neurodiagnostic studies. Through our affiliation with Morton Plant Hospital and its Neurosciences Institute, our patients have at their disposal a strong medical advantage in the treatment of brain, spinal cord, nervous disorders and stroke.

Morton Plant North Bay Hospital is certified by DNV GL Healthcare as a Primary Stroke Center. This certification affirms our hospital's readiness to handle a full-range of stroke-related medical problems.

What Is a Stroke?

A stroke is an interruption in the delivery of blood to the brain. Strokes are the leading cause of serious disability and the third leading cause of death in the U.S. A stroke occurs when a vessel that delivers blood to the brain is blocked or an aneurysm (balloon-like pouch on the blood vessel wall) ruptures. However, half of all strokes can be prevented by managing risk factors, according to the American Stroke Association.

Risk Factors

  • If you have high blood pressure, diabetes or carotid artery disease, make dietary and lifestyle changes recommended by your physician.
  • Patients who have experienced a mini-stroke or TIA should take all prescribed medications and treatments. A TIA is a warning that should not be ignored.
  • If you are a smoker, now is the time to quit.
  • If you don’t exercise, now is the time to start. Lack of regular exercise can contribute to heart disease and stroke. It’s also important to maintain a proper weight and have blood tests for cholesterol, triglycerides and other elements that can indicate increased risk for a stroke. Obesity and waist size have proven to have an important impact in stroke risk: the greatest risk is for men with a waist measurement of 40 inches or larger, and women with a waist of 35 inches or larger.
  • Patients with several risk factors (such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity) are much more likely to suffer a stroke than those with just one or two risk factors. This is called metabolic syndrome.
  • Use of illegal drugs and excessive consumption of alcohol can also raise your risk for stroke.

Stroke Symptoms

Strokes are not painful, so individuals must be able to recognize the symptoms of a stroke or mini-stroke, also known as TIA (transient ischemic attack), and seek medical treatment. About one-third of strokes occur in individuals younger than 65.

  • Sudden numbness of the face, arm or leg, usually on one side of the body
  • Sudden confusion, or difficulty in speaking
  • Sudden vision problems
  • Sudden difficulty in walking
  • Sudden dizziness and/or loss of balance or coordination
  • Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

The warning signs of mini-strokes or TIAs are the same, except that the conditions are temporary. For example, an individual might experience numbness in the face or arms, but regain feeling in a few minutes, or have difficulty seeing but then regain normal vision a few minutes later. TIAs are a warning that the body is likely to experience a stroke. It is extremely important to seek medical evaluation and preventative treatment as quickly as possible.

If you or a loved one is exhibiting signs of a stroke, call 911 or visit an emergency room immediately.

Support Group

We offer a monthly stroke survivor and caregiver support group. Discuss the recovery process and receive encouragement from your peers.

Stroke Survivors and Caregivers Support Group
Date: Last Thursday of every month
Time: 10:30am-12pm

For more information about our support group, please call (727) 843-4586.

Learn more about neuroscience services at BayCare.