Stroke

While there are many risk factors linked to stroke, some are controllable and some are not. It’s important to know the difference and learn how a few simple changes can make a significant difference.

Controllable risk factors

Lifestyle risk factors include diet and exercise, nutrition, physical activity, tobacco use, smoking and alcohol use.

High blood pressure, atrial fibrillation (AFib), high cholesterol, diabetes and circulation problems are all controllable medical risk factors. Medical risk factors are treatable through medication and special diets.

Uncontrollable risk factors

Some stroke risk factors are simply out of our control. However, knowing what they are is still crucial when determining your overall stroke risk. Uncontrollable risk factors include:

• Age — A stroke can happen to anyone at any age. Stroke risk, however, increases as you grow older. After the age of 55, stroke risk doubles for every decade someone is alive.
• Family history — Your stroke risk increases if a family member, such as a parent, grandparent or sibling, has had a stroke or heart attack at an early age.
• Gender — Women experience more strokes each year than men, mainly because women live longer than men and stroke occurs more often at older ages. Stroke incidences in men are higher at younger ages.
• Previous stroke — After experiencing a stroke, survivors and their families usually concentrate their efforts on rehabilitation and recovery. A significant portion of strokes that occur each year are recurrent events.
• Race and ethnicity — African Americans have a higher risk of stroke, partially because they are more susceptible to high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islanders also have higher risk of stroke than Caucasians.

Stroke prevention is also important for those who have experienced transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). TIAs are brief episodes of stroke-like symptoms that can last anywhere from a few minutes to 24 hours. They usually cause no permanent damage or disability. TIAs are serious warning signs of a possible future stroke and must be taken seriously.

Knowing the signs and symptoms of a stroke is the first step to ensuring swift medical attention. For each minute a stroke goes untreated and blood flow to the brain is blocked, speech, movement, memory and vital functions can be affected.

Symptoms to watch out for include:

• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg muscles, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

Be FAST to identify the symptoms of stroke and respond correctly:

• Face — Ask the person to smile. Does one side of their face droop?
• Arms — Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one of their arms drift downward?
• Speech — Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
• Time — If you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately.

Call 911 immediately if you observe any of these symptoms. Note the time of the first symptom. This information is important and can affect treatment.

Our stroke program is certified by The Joint Commission as a Primary Stroke Center. We not only treat any acute stroke symptoms, but also help you manage any ongoing effects and underlying problems that may be the cause of stroke. When you come to our emergency department with stroke symptoms, there are several things you can expect, including:

• 24/7 laboratory testing
• Clot dissolving medication
• Diagnostic imaging equipment, such as a computerized tomography (CT) scan to accurately detect stroke and its complications
• Neurosurgical care
• Rehabilitation specialists committed to helping you regain a comfortable quality of life
• Trained stroke team that is available 24/7 to evaluate you