By Shannin Prather
January 2018 | 2018 Winter Newsletter
The American Stroke Association reports brain attacks (strokes) as a leading cause of serious, long-term disability worldwide. Eighty percent of strokes are preventable by choosing healthy lifestyle choices: regular physical activity, a healthy diet, and refraining from smoking and/or alcohol.
The brain needs constant blood flow to receive oxygen and nutrients needed to function properly. Arteries carry blood to specific areas of the brain. A stroke occurs when an artery is blocked or bursts and the brain does not receive enough blood flow. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes can increase the risk of strokes.
A person experiencing a stroke is three times more likely to recover with little or no disability if they receive medical assistance within 90 minutes of when the symptoms begin.
Luckily, warning signs will help you detect if someone is experiencing a stroke. Follow these four steps and think F.A.S.T.
Face drooping. Ask the person to smile. Is their smile uneven or lopsided? Arm weakness. Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? Speech difficulty. Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “The sky is blue.” Are they able to correctly repeat your words? Are they slurring? Time to call 9-1-1. If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and say, “I think this is a stroke,” to help get the person to the hospital immediately.
Learn more about the warning signs of stroke and how you can decrease your risk of having one. Call the American Stroke Association Silicon Valley at (408) 606-5940 or visit their website: stroke.org.