February 2008 Health Focus
American Heart Awareness Month
STROKE

Stroke is a very common type of cardiovascular disease. It is the #1 cause of adult disability and 3rd leading cause of death in the US. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it starts to die. There are two main types of stroke. One (Ischemic Stroke) is caused by the blockage of a blood vessel; the other (Hemorriagic Stroke) is caused by bleeding. Bleeding strokes have a much higher death rate than strokes caused by clots.

The burden of stroke is greater among African-Americans than in any other group. In fact, blacks have almost twice the risk of first-ever stroke compared with whites, and blacks 35-54 years old have four times the relative risk of stroke. But there is hope. You have the power to fight stroke - and win! By following these three simple steps, you can help protect yourself against stroke.

  1. REDUCE your chances of having a stroke by learning the risk factors and working with your doctor to help reduce your risk.
  2. RECOGNIZE the warning signs of a stroke. Stroke is a medical emergency. Every second counts!
  3. RESPOND by calling 9-1-1 immediately if you or someone else close to you is having warning signs of a stroke. Then check the time. When did the first symptom start? You'll be asked this important question later.
Stroke symptoms include: If you think someone may be having a stroke, act F.A.S.T. and do this simple test:

Act F.A.S.T.
FACEAsk the person to smile.
Does one side of the face drop?
ARMSAsk the person to raise both arms.
Does one arm drift downward?
SPEECHAsk the person to repeat a simple sentence.
Are the words slurred? Can he/she repeat the sentence correctly?
TIMEIf the person shows any of these symptoms, time is important. Call 9-1-1 or get to the hospital fast. Brain cells are dying.