Ask the Experts Blog

Tami Goslee BSN, RN, Clinical Educator at Lakeland Health, encourages everyone to become a stroke hero by knowing the warning signs of a stroke and being prepared to use them.

According to the American Stroke Association, stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States:

• On average, someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds
• About 700,000 Americans suffer strokes each year
• About every 3 minutes, someone dies of a stroke

Risk factors for stroke can be classified into two general types: Controllable and non-controllable. Stroke risk factors that cannot be controlled are:

• Age – nearly ¾ of all strokes occur in people over age 65. After the age of 55, stroke risk doubles for every decade a person is alive.
• Sex – stroke incidence is higher in men at younger ages, but women experience more stroke each year than men. Mainly because women live longer than men and stroke occurs more often at older ages. 
• Race – African Americans have twice the 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.
• Prior Stroke – If you've had a stroke, you're at a much higher risk for having another one. If you've had a heart attack, this also raises your risk for having a stroke.
• Family History – Your stroke risk increases if a family member (parent, grandparent, or sibling) has had a stroke or a heart attack at an early age.

Stroke risk factors that can be treated through diet, medication, and/or intervention are:

• Hypertension/High Blood Pressure - High blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke and the most important controllable risk factor for stroke. Many people believe the effective treatment of high blood pressure is a key reason for the accelerated decline in the death rates for stroke.
• Heart Disease - People with coronary heart disease or heart failure have a higher risk of stroke than those with hearts that work normally.
• Cigarette Smoking - In recent years, studies have shown cigarette smoking to be an important risk factor for stroke. The nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke damage the cardiovascular system in many ways. The use of oral contraceptives combined with cigarette smoking greatly increases stroke risk.
• Diabetes - Diabetes is an independent risk factor for stroke. Many people with diabetes also have high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and are overweight. This increases their risk even more. While diabetes is treatable, the presence of the disease still increases your risk of stroke.
• Elevated Blood Cholesterol/Lipids - People with high blood cholesterol have an increased risk for stroke. Also, it appears that low HDL (“good”) cholesterol is a risk factor for stroke in men, but more data are needed to verify its effect in women.
• Physical inactivity and Obesity - Being inactive, obese, or both, can increase your risk of high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. So go on a brisk walk, take the stairs, and do whatever you can to make your life more active. Try to get a total of at least 30 minutes of activity on most or all days.

Are you prepared to become a stroke hero? Start by recognizing these key signs and know how to act on them: 

• FACE – Does the face look uneven? Ask the person to smile.
• ARM – Does one arm drift down? Ask the person to raise both arms.
• SPEECH – Does their speech sound strange? Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase, for example, “The sky is blue.”
• TIME – If you observe any of these signs, then it’s time to call 9-1-1 

“Stroke is absolutely a medical emergency – it is a 'brain attack' and it is very important for each of us to educate ourselves about the signs and symptoms of a stroke so that we can act fast and get medical treatment quickly by calling 9-1-1,” said Tami. “It is also important to know that about 80 percent of strokes are preventable. If you know your risk factors, you can choose to make better choices for yourself and your family to decrease your risk for stroke.” 

To learn more, attend an upcoming Stroke 101 class.