For strokes – think F.A.S.T 

Last Christmas my mother-in-law was visiting us from California. One evening while watching TV, she suddenly mentioned, “My leg feels funny.  And my hand won’t do what I want it to do.  And I can’t feel my cheek.”  Though I remained outwardly calm, my heart was racing.  You see, my mother-in-law is very dear to me, and I immediately recognized the signs of a stroke.  After asking her a couple of simple questions, I picked up the phone and dialed 911. 
 
What is a stroke? A stroke is the sudden death of brain cells caused by interruption of blood flow to the brain. This can be caused by either a blood clot or bleeding from a ruptured artery in the brain.  Because adequate oxygen is not being delivered to the brain, abnormal brain function can result.
 
What is a TIA? A TIA, (transient ischemic attack), also known as a “mini stroke,” is a short lived episode, usually less than 24 hours, of temporary impairment to the brain.  A TIA causes loss of function in the area of the body that is controlled by the part of the brain affected by the reduced blood flow.
 
What causes strokes? There are several potential causes of strokes: clogging of the arteries within the brain, hardening of the arteries leading to the brain, a blood clot that travels from another part of the body to the brain, and ruptured arteries.
 
Who is at risk of having a stroke? If you have high blood pressure, or a family history of high blood pressure, that will increase your risk of having a stroke.  Smoking is another risk factor, as it can cause carotid arteries to become blocked or closed, and block blood flow to the brain.
 
What can be done to reduce the risk of having a stroke? Controlling blood pressure is one of the keys to lowering the chances of having a stroke. Regular exercise, quitting all tobacco use, avoiding stress, lowering your cholesterol level, and eating a healthy diet are some of the ways you can improve overall health, feel better, and reduce your risk of strokes and other cardiac related emergencies. (Although I’d prefer a cheeseburger over fish any day of the week, the fact is that a diet heavy in red meats and other fatty foods is one of the causes of higher cholesterol.)
 
How are strokes diagnosed? There are several tests that are used: CAT scan, MRI, Carotid Doppler, Angiogram, heart tests and blood tests.
 
How are strokes treated? Fortunately the damage caused by strokes doesn’t have to be permanent.  Wonderful new “clot-buster” drugs are available which can significantly improve the patient’s outcome from the stroke over the long term. (The key to the success of these new drugs is that they are administered within 3 hours of the onset of the symptoms.)
 
What is the impact of a stroke? Potentially devastating!  Every year approximately 400,000 people suffer a stroke.  Up to 40% of those people die.  The major impact of a stroke is the loss of independence that affects 30% of the survivors.
 
How can I recognize a stroke? Think F.A.S.T..  The “F” stands for face: since a stroke usually affects one side of the body, you may notice weakness on one side of the face.  Ask the person to smile – this will show if there is drooping or weakness of the muscles. The “A” stands for arms: ask the person to raise both arms.  If you see weakness or numbness in one arm, you should suspect a stroke. “S” stands for speech: a person having a stroke may experience slurred speech.  Ask them to speak a simple sentence.  Difficulty with this task is an important signal of a stroke.  “T” is for time: time to call 911.  And, as mentioned above, the time factor is critical.  Observe what time these symptoms began so that you can help the doctors by letting them know how long these symptoms have been going on.
 
Some other signals that could possibly occur are sudden onset of headache confusion, memory loss, or confusion.
 
With these or any other medical emergencies, the key to a happy outcome is your rapid decision to call 911!  I am very happy that my mother-in-law is doing great, having suffered no lasting symptoms from what turned out to be a TIA. After 2 days in the hospital and drug therapy, she recovered completely and is back at home in sunny California.
 
Kathy Atwell
President
LifeSavers Health & Safety Training
www.LifeSavers-Training.com

First Published

March, 2007

Health & Fitness Times