Act RAPIDLY to prevent, treat a stroke

On World Stroke Day, it’s a good time to learn the warning signs of a stroke, and a DC-area doctor explains how a simple acronym can help save a life.

October 29 is known as World Stroke Day, and the American Stroke Association, which is a division of the American Heart Association, wants you to know the importance of knowing the signs of a stroke, so you know when to see a doctor right away.

A stroke, sometimes called a stroke, occurs when something blocks the blood supply to part of the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. When this happens, parts of the brain are damaged or die.

It is one of the leading causes of death in the United States and a leading cause of severe disability in adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dr. Amie Hsia is the Medical Director of the Comprehensive Stroke Center in MedStar Washington Hospital in DC She said that the acronym FAST is something that can be used to help people remember the signs and symptoms of stroke.

The F represents the face; look for sagging face or one side that doesn’t move as well as the other, Hsia said.

The A represents weapons. “Have them just put their arms up in the air and see if they have trouble lifting one of their arms or if an arm falls to their side,” Hsia said.

The S is for speech. Are there any slurred speech? Are they having trouble finding the right words?

“If they seem to have a hard time understanding what you are saying, all of these things are potential signs of stroke,” Hsia said.

And the T means time – because stroke is definitely an emergency. “This is something that should be the trigger to call 911 and get emergency care and be taken to hospital immediately,” she said.

All of these warning signs don’t necessarily happen together, and it’s important to remember that a stroke doesn’t always present the same way, which can make it difficult to identify someone as having it.

“That’s why we use this acronym FAST to represent some of the more common symptoms. But again, they don’t necessarily all happen together. So not all strokes turn out so dramatically, ”Hsia said.

And how you get to the hospital can affect how quickly you are treated. Hsia said it has been studied that people who arrive at an emergency department by ambulance get the care or attention they need faster.

“It’s understandable. It is expected that if you could be dropped off by a family member or friend, anything that happens to you is assumed to be less critical than someone who arrived by ambulance,” he said. said Hsia.

Research shows that although most people say they would call 911 in an emergency with a stroke, real-world data shows that up to 75% of people with stroke have a stroke first. called their friends or family, according to a press release from the American Stroke Association.

Stroke is treatable, which is why it is important to call 911 immediately if you think someone is having a stroke – because getting treatment promptly is important to preventing death and disability, the CDC said.

“The reason for emergency care is that there are treatments available, especially for the type of stroke that is blocking at this point, where we can potentially restore blood flow and bring patients back to normal, back to normal. independence and really bring them home. as soon as possible to be with their families, ”Hsia said.

These treatments include blood thinners and devices that can remove a clot.

“The sooner a person can present to the hospital from the moment symptoms are noticed, the more potential treatment options that we can offer,” Hsia said.

Each year, approximately 800,000 people in the United States have a stroke, and worldwide, 1 in 4 will have a stroke in their lifetime, according to the American Stroke Association.

“Stroke can happen to anyone, at any age. And so just because you see someone who may be young or you look at them and you think, “You know, that person doesn’t look like someone who might have a stroke. All of this would be incorrect because anyone can have a stroke, ”Hsia said.

However, the risk of stroke increases with age, and medical problems can contribute to stroke. These include risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking or diabetes, as well as chronic medical problems, such as abnormal heart rhythm, especially atrial fibrillation.

For more information on stroke warning signs, prevention and recovery, visit the American Stroke Association website.

Kristi King of OMPP contributed to this report.