Seton Medical Center has been designated a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission, the leading accrediting body for hospitals in the U.S. Seton’s stroke program has earned the Gold Plus Performance Achievement Award from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for exemplary care of stroke patients. The award recognizes Seton’s continuing success in adhering to scientifically proven care of stroke patients and compliance with rigorous quality measures to raise patient survival rates. If you experience any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.

Read more about symptoms and risk factors of a stroke.

There are steps we can take to prevent medical emergencies, starting with getting annual physicals and exercising regularly:

These Health Screening Guidelines outline recommended screenings.
• These Physical Activity Guidelines outline recommended activity guidelines for everyone – for Children & Adolescents (Ages 6-17), Adults (Ages 18-64) and Older Adults (64 and over).

We can also help prevent emergencies by reducing risk factors that can be dangerous to our health:

keeping poisons and medications out of reach of children
• driving carefully
• never operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The emergency physicians at Seton Medical Center are trained in pediatric airway management, resuscitation of infants and other childhood emergencies.

Seek immediate medical help if your child exhibits any of the following warning signs of a medical emergency:

any significant change from normal behavior, such as confusion, decreasing responsiveness, excessive sleepiness, irritability, seizure, or strange or withdrawn behavior
• severe headache or vomiting, especially following a head injury
• uncontrolled bleeding
• inability to stand up or unsteady walking
• unconsciousness
• abnormal or difficult breathing
• skin or lips that look blue or purple
• feeding or eating difficulties
• increasing or severe, persistent pain
• fever accompanied by change in behavior
• severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea

Please bring your child’s medical history and any medications (in their original containers) with you to the Emergency Department. If your child has swallowed poison or any harmful medications, call poison control first at (800) 222-1222, and then bring the suspected poison or medication with your child to the Emergency Department.

These themes are the focus of the first-ever, 44-page, full-color Seton Health & Wellness Guide and the newly revamped Seton website.

Click here for more information about symptoms and risk factors of stroke.

View a short video of George Nagy, a stroke patient at Seton Medical Center.

Check back often for more news about Emergency & Stroke Care at Seton Medical Center
• Other latest news from Seton Medical Center

You can ask the questions on your mind, and we’ll secure answers from physicians on our medical staff.

In one second, 32,000 brain cells die, and in less than one minute, an ischemic stroke will kill 1.9 million brain cells.

sudden numbness, tingling, weakness, or loss of movement in the face, arm or leg, especially on only one side of the body
• sudden vision changes
• sudden trouble speaking
• sudden confusion or trouble understanding simple statements
• sudden problems with walking or balance
• a sudden, severe headache that is different than past headaches

Many strokes are preventable. A good first step is learning and addressing the risk factors of a stroke.

high blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• heart disease
• physical inactivity and obesity
• family history of stroke
• atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat)
• smoking
• heavy alcohol use
• diabetes

Seton Medical Center employees are passionate about early detection and prevention of life-threatening illness. Click here to learn about what makes Seton employees tick and here for a short YouTube video featuring Seton associates.

Timely screenings are a key to early detection. These Health Screening Guidelines outline recommended screenings.
• We also know that inactivity contributes to disease. These Physical Activity Guidelines outline recommended activity guidelines for everyone – for Children & Adolescents (Ages 6-17), Adults (Ages 18-64) and Older Adults (64 and over).

IMPORTANT: This information is provided as a community service. It is not intended as medical advice. Contact your personal physician about your individual health care needs and for advice about starting a new exercise program.

• Farmers markets
• Crystal Springs Regional Trail
• Walking tours of San Francisco
• Community pools
• Local recreation departments
• Seniors centers
• Public libraries