Do You Know the Signs and Symptoms of a Stroke?

Each year in the United States, nearly 800,000 people experience a stroke — that equals one stroke every 40 seconds somewhere in the U.S.

Roughly 8 out of 10 strokes are ischemic strokes. These occur when there is a blockage in an artery that stops or reduces blood flow to one area of the brain. This blockage prevents brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients, causing cells to die.

Another less-common type of stroke — called a hemorrhagic stroke — occurs when a brain blood vessel bursts. This event leads to bleeding in the brain. Without prompt treatment, either type of stroke can be fatal.

During Stroke Awareness Month this May, take time to learn stroke signs, symptoms, risk factors, and prevention strategies. This knowledge might save your life or the life of someone you know.

BE FAST: Stroke Signs and Symptoms

Acting fast in the event of a stroke can be the difference between life and death. The chances of surviving a stroke increase when treatment begins right away.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, patients who receive emergency treatment within three hours of their first stroke symptoms have less disability three months after a stroke than those who delay getting care.

Know the primary stroke signs and call 911 immediately if you spot them. Use the memory aid “BE FAST” to help remember key stroke symptoms.

• B = Balance issues. Loss of coordination.
• E = Eye problems. Blurred or double vision or sudden loss of vision.
• F = Face drooping or twisting. Ask the person to smile. Does their mouth droop on one side?
• A = Arm weakness. Have the person raise both arms. Does one arm drift down?
• S = Speech difficulty. Get the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
• T = Time. Call 911 and get to the emergency department if you observe any of these signs.

Stroke Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies

You cannot control or modify some risk factors for stroke. These include:

• Age: Stroke likelihood increases with age, though you can have a stroke at any age.
• Family history: If you have family members who experienced a stroke before age 65, you may be at greater risk of developing a stroke.
• Gender: Strokes kill more women than men. Stroke is the third-leading cause of death in women.
• Race: Black people have a higher risk of death from stroke than white people, according to the American Heart Association.

However, you can reduce your stroke risk by adopting healthy lifestyle choices. In fact, the American Heart Association estimates that you can prevent up to 80 percent of strokes through lifestyle modifications.

Take these important steps to prevent your risk of stroke:

• Stop smoking: Smoking contributes to enhanced stroke risk.
• Lose excess weight: Being overweight or obese leads to greater stroke likelihood.
• Control high blood pressure: High blood pressure (readings over 120/80 mm Hg) is another leading cause of stroke.
• Manage diabetes symptoms: If you have diabetes, you are twice as likely to have a stroke than someone without the condition.
• Adopt a nutritious diet: Aim for meals high in vegetables and lean proteins and low in sodium.
• Exercise: Try to get at least 20–30 minutes of moderate exercise at least five days a week.
• Limit alcohol: If you drink alcohol, drink moderately (no more than one drink daily for women or two for men).
• Manage stress: Chronic stress can contribute to high blood pressure and other stroke risk factors.
• Get adequate sleep: Poor sleep quality and sleep disorders like sleep apnea also increase stroke risk.

Adopting these healthy patterns can reduce your chance of developing blocked arteries from cholesterol build-up, a major cause of stroke.

Stroke Treatment

Stroke treatment requires immediate emergency treatment. Once at the hospital, providers will administer medications to help dissolve the blood clot causing the stroke. In some cases, you may require neurosurgery or other interventions to correct the source of the blockage.

You may experience lingering effects following a stroke, including weakness in one side of the body or speech difficulties. We offer inpatient and outpatient stroke rehabilitation support to help patients regain skills and mobility.

Post-stroke therapies and rehabilitation may include:

• Occupational therapy to relearn daily activities like buttoning clothes or opening a jar
• Physical therapy to help with movement and coordination
• Psychological support to deal with emotional challenges from lingering stroke effects
• Speech therapy if the stroke affects your speech or swallowing

After recovering from a stroke, patients may take medications to prevent the risk of stroke recurrence. These could include medications to reduce blood pressure and/or drugs known as anticoagulants or antiplatelets, which help reduce the likelihood of future blood clots.

Know the signs of stroke and call 911 for immediate help when you notice any symptoms.

At Memorial Neuroscience Institute, our trained stroke teams deliver effective treatment with speed and precision at four stroke centers across our healthcare system.