Stroke Awareness: Act F.A.S.T. to Save a Life

Did you know that a stroke is a brain attack? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. It is also a leading cause of serious long-term disability. And while the CDC says most strokes occur in people aged 65 or older, they can occur at any age. What’s even more intriguing is that up to 80 percent of strokes can be prevented.

So educating yourself on what can be done to fight them seems like a “no-brainer,” right? Keep reading to learn how to prevent stroke, as well as how to spot one and how acting quickly can make the difference between life and death or serious disability.

“A stroke can occur in two ways,” said Elias Dagnew, MD, board-certified neurosurgeon at . “When a blood clot or narrowing of a blood vessel interrupts blood flow to the brain, a stroke occurs. In addition, blood vessels in the brain can deteriorate or break, causing bleeding in the brain. That can also cause a stroke,” he said. “When these things happen, brain cells begin to die and brain damage occurs, affecting abilities controlled by that area of the brain.”

That’s why Dagnew stressed the importance of seeking emergency medical treatment immediately, and from a medical facility that has the full capability to employ the team approach needed to effectively treat strokes. Dagnew said that means getting to a hospital such as Emory Johns Creek, where both neurosurgeons and neurologists are on-call 24 hours per day to treat patients. In addition, Emory Johns Creek Hospital recently earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ for certification as a Primary Stroke Center. An emergency room and interventional radiology are also key components of an effective stroke team.

“For example, if a person has a stroke and can get to a qualified facility within three hours, a neurologist can perform critical clot-busting procedures to restore blood flow quickly. The best facilities will also have a neurosurgeon readily available to perform either surgical or non-surgical procedures to remove blood clots or reduce brain swelling when necessary. These are critical procedures that greatly reduce a patient’s risk for disability and death,” Dagnew said.

So what are the symptoms of stroke? The National Stroke Association says people can learn to recognize a stroke and respond to symptoms by using the F.A.S.T. test.

F = FACE—Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A = ARMS—Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one drift downward?

S = SPEECH—Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?

T = TIME—If you observe any of these signs, it’s time to call 9-1-1.

While the F.A.S.T. test is critical for determining if a person is having a stroke, preventing strokes to begin with remains the best medicine. And since the vast majority of strokes are preventable, Dagnew says people should make prevention a priority. Anyone can have stroke, regardless of age, race or gender. But like almost all medical conditions, some people are at greater risk than others.

People over age 55, males, African Americans, Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islanders and those with a family history of stroke are at greater risk. Although those are risk factors that can’t be controlled, there are other risk factors that people can do something about. Keeping blood pressure, cholesterol and weight in check helps prevent stroke. Staying physically active and limiting tobacco and alcohol use will also help. Lastly, those with diabetes or atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) should take special precautions.

Dagnew recommends people talk with their doctors to fully monitor risk factors. He said that many of the ways the general public can prevent stroke involve doing the same things people with risk factors would do. Exercise, stop smoking, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, eat a low sodium diet. Most of all, know the symptoms of a stroke and get help immediately if you or someone you know experiences them.

Emory Johns Creek Hospital, located in the heart of Johns Creek, is known for its state-of-the-art technology in a luxurious, hotel-like setting. As a community hospital participating in most insurance plans, services include 24/7 emergency care with board-certified emergency physicians, state-of-the-art all digital imaging including a 64-slice CT,  MRI,  The Birth Place with Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, 24-hour anesthesiologists, intensive care, advanced cardiac care, vascular medicine and surgery, rehabilitation services and women’s services.  Emory Johns Creek Hospital is home to the Atlanta Bariatric Center, designated a Center of Excellence by the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons. Learn more at EmoryJohnsCreek.com.