Stroke Care

It is a fact that stroke is becoming more common in the United States — recent stroke statistics reveal that close to 3 percent of the population has had one. But despite the frequency of stroke, there are still many misconceptions surrounding it. There is a lack of education to the public regarding stroke awareness. Many people have no understanding of what puts a person at risk for stroke.

Most do not know that there are two kinds of stroke - ischemic and hemorrhagic. Nearly 90 percent of the strokes that take place in the United States are ischemic strokes, which occur as a result of a blockage (usually a clot) in a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a weakened blood vessel ruptures.

FAST

If you think you are having a stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately. A stroke is an emergency. Knowing the telltale signs of stroke could save your life or the life of someone you care about. Remember to act FAST and be aware of:

F - Face Drooping

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

A - Arm Weakness

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

S - Speech Difficulty

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

T - 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.

Brain Attack 

On average, someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds and someone dies of a stroke every 3.1 minutes. However, most strokes are preventable and many are treatable. Time is of the essence when strokes occur. Once stroke occurs, the goal is to minimize potential damage.

The American Stroke Association states that a stroke or "brain attack" occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery (a blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the body) or a blood vessel (a tube through which the blood moves through the body) breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain. When either of these things happens, brain cells begin to die and brain damage occurs.