PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — May is Stroke Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to think about your risks of having a stroke, how you can reduce those risks, and the steps to take if you think you are having one, according to Northern Light AR Gould Hospital.
According to the Stroke Awareness Foundation, in the United States someone has a stroke every 40 seconds and every four minutes, someone dies from a stroke. Strokes are the fifth leading cause of death in America and the leading cause of serious long-term disability. And yet, 80 percent of strokes are preventable.
“There are a lot of misconceptions about strokes,” says John Thyng, PA-C, Emergency Medicine Medical director at AR Gould Hospital. “For instance, many believe strokes only happen in the elderly, but they can and do occur at any age, and nearly one quarter of strokes occur under the age of 65.”
Risk factors
The biggest risk factor for having a stroke is high blood pressure (hypertension) – this can increase your risk as much as four times over those not suffering from this condition.
In addition to high blood pressure, other risk factors include obesity, high cholesterol levels, narrowed arteries, diabetes, arrhythmia or atrial fibrillation, being over the age of 65, a family history of stroke, and lifestyle choices (such as lack of exercise, a poor diet, smoking, or excessive drinking).
Reducing your risk
First, it’s important to work with your provider to control your risks due to medical conditions, whether that means medication, a medical procedure, or a change in your lifestyle. More than half of all strokes are caused by hypertension, making it the most important risk factor to control.
Lifestyle changes are a direct way you can take control of your risks – both for hypertension and stroke. Here’s how you can do that, according to Thyng:
Avoid smoking and drinking too much alcohol.
Improve your eating habits.
Be physically active.
Take your medications as directed.
Get your blood pressure checked regularly.
Reach and maintain a healthy weight.
Decrease your stress level.
Seek emotional support when it is needed.
Have regular medical check-ups.
Stroke symptoms and what to do
Thyng says when suspecting a stroke, you need to remember to “Be Fast!”
And just what does that mean?
B – Balance issues
E – Eyesight changes
F – Face drooping
A – Arm weakness
S – Speech difficulty
T – Time to call 911
“The most important thing you can do to limit the damage caused by a stroke is quick action – both in getting to the hospital and in being treated,” said Thyng. “Without treatment, strokes can be life threatening and can cause serious damage to the brain. If you or someone you are with starts exhibiting symptoms of a stroke, take action right away. Minutes count for good outcomes.”
In the emergency department, steps are taken to make every one of those minutes count, according to Thyng. That includes calling a “code stroke” when someone arrives in the ED or staff are notified someone is on their way with stroke symptoms. A team of nurses and doctors report for immediate care, certain screenings are taken immediately, and a neurologist reviews results in real time to discuss a treatment plan with local providers.
“Sometimes these might be false alarms due to other medical conditions, such as Bell’s palsy, seizures, infections, etc. But we err on the side of caution to get those with stroke symptoms evaluated quickly to determine if it is a stroke, and, if so, what kind it is and the best course of treatment,” explains Thyng.
Thyng also warns about another misconception regarding strokes.
“Some believe that if the symptoms go away, they don’t need to seek medical attention. However, temporary stroke symptoms, called transient ischemic attacks, are warning signs prior to an actual stroke and need medical attention immediately,” he explains.
