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Updated: July 16, 2026

Stroke is South Carolina's 5th Biggest Killer.

  • 20,879: The number of emergency department visits for stroke in South Carolina in 2022.
  • 17,765: The number of hospitalizations for stroke in South Carolina in 2022.
  • $1.5 billion: The total hospitalization charges due to stroke in South Carolina in 2022. 
Tracking Heart attack/stroke dashboard

What is a Stroke?

A stroke is an emergency! A stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, occurs when something blocks blood supply to part of the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. In either case, parts of the brain become damaged or die. A stroke can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death.

Diagram about how strokes occur Spot a Stroke Graphic - BE FAST

Warning signs of a stroke

  • Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
  • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
  • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
  • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
  • Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Act Fast. Call 9-1-1!

  • If you think you're having a stroke, call 9-1-1 right away - not a friend.
  • Calling 9-1-1 is the best way to get to the hospital.
  • Emergency medical services (EMS) staff can begin life-saving treatment immediately.
  • You're likely to receive faster treatment at the hospital if you arrive by ambulance.
  • Never drive yourself or have someone drive you to the hospital unless you have no other option.
Red, black and white Signs of Stroke Graphic

What Increases Your Risk for a Stroke?

Several factors make it more likely you will have a stroke. Some you can control and some you cannot.

Risk factors you can control

  • High blood pressure is the strongest predictor of a stroke. Someone with high blood pressure has a much greater chance of stroke before age 80.
  • Smoking can lead to blood clots and raise blood pressure
  • Excessive alcohol intake
  • Diabetes
  • High cholesterol
  • Physical Inactivity &/or being obese
  • Heart disease: Stroke and heart disease share many risk factors. Over time, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, not getting enough exercise, and being overweight, can cause changes in the heart and/or blood vessels that can lead to stroke and other cardiac events.
  • Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs), also known as mini-strokes.  

Risk factors you cannot control

  • Age: Although stroke can occur at any age, the risk doubles every decade between the ages of 55 and 85.
  • Race: Blacks and Hispanics are more prone to stroke.
  • Gender: Women have a higher lifetime risk of stroke than men.
  • Prior Strokes 

Reduce Your Stroke Risk

Why Choose a Hospital with a Designated Stroke Center?

Stroke is a medical and/or surgical emergency. Governing bodies verification and designation requirements set strict requirements, to include standards, clinical practice guidelines, and performance measurement for staffing of resources and specialists, response times, training, performance improvement and stroke prevention activities at stroke centers.  Stroke centers have dedicated and organized stroke teams that respond promptly.  The Stroke Medical Director (A physician responsible for stroke care) and Stroke Program Director are responsible to ensure compliance with the requirements, and for carrying out all activities associated with the stroke program. Hospitals that are not designated as stroke centers may have, and be staffed by, an emergency room physician but not have organized teams led by physicians trained in interventional neurological or surgical procedures to manage ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. These facilities focus on evaluation, stabilization, and transfer to an appropriate facility for further care.

South Carolina Stroke Centers

The South Carolina Stroke System of Care webpage holds the most recent list of stroke centers organized by level of designation.

Comprehensive Stroke Centers

These facilities can meet concurrently emerging needs of multiple complex stroke patients. The CSC will provide support for all South Carolina hospitals as a referral source for high level neurological critical care, medical, interventional, surgical capabilities, and stroke research.

Thrombectomy- Capable Stroke Center (TSC)

These facilities do all that Primary Stroke Centers do, plus have the tools and the expertise to perform mechanical thrombectomy, a minimally invasive surgical procedure to remove a blood clot from an artery. These centers also have neurointensive care and 24/7 on-site critical care coverage primary Stroke Centers The only difference in this and a Comprehensive Stroke Center is that the CSC has ongoing stroke research.

Primary Stroke Centers (PSC)

Ability to care for patients with acute ischemic stroke; Rapid assessment, imaging, and able to administer intravenous thrombolytic therapy.

Acute Stroke Ready Hospitals

These facilities are equipped to treat stroke patients with timely, evidence-based care prior to transferring them to a Primary, Thrombectomy Capable, or Comprehensive Stroke Center. 

The South Carolina Stroke System of Care webpage holds the most recent list of acute stroke ready hospitals organized by location and level of designation.

For more information regarding the South Carolina Stroke System of Care, please contact Stroke Program Coordinator, Allison McElveen, with the DPH EMS and Trauma Section, at (803) 545-4958, mcelveas@dph.sc.gov, or stroke@dph.sc.gov. 

Additional Information

Related Topics

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