Surveys show fewer than one in 10 women perceive heart disease as their greatest health threat. But it's the nation's number one killer, and women are its prime target. Over one-third of the women who die in the U.S. each year die of heart disease.


The risk of heart attack and stroke increases with age, especially after menopause. That's why it's important to start protecting yourself early.

St. Mary's of Michigan is certified as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. We were the first in northeast Michigan to create a stroke program - nearly 50 years ago. With this experience comes expertise in treating the complexities of stroke. Our comprehensive care begins in the Emergency Department where advanced neurological diagnostic tools assist in the accurate detection of stroke. 

For patients who are candidates for aggressive therapy aimed at reversing the damage caused by stroke, treatment is quick and precise because brain cells deprived of oxygen and glucose die quickly. Minutes count because the time period to administer life-saving, clot-busting drugs or other interventions is short.


Following initial treatment, patients may spend time in our dedicated neurological intensive care unit. Nurses and technicians are specifically trained in neurological care and have devoted their careers to the field.