Healthy Living

Over the years we’ve made many advances in stroke care, but one thing remains the same: the sooner treatment begins, the better the outcome.

And I’m not just talking about life or death. In fact, most people don’t die directly from strokes, but they must live with the disabling after effects for the rest of their lives. The long-term impact can be devastating to patients and their loved ones.

That’s why it is so important to educate the public on the risk factors and warning signs of stroke, especially because May is National Stroke Awareness Month.

Every 40 seconds someone in the U.S. has a stroke, with 795,000 strokes annually. It is the No. 1 cause of disability and the No. 3 cause of death. The good news is 80 percent of strokes are preventable.

Risk factors include:

• High blood pressure
• Atrial fibrillation
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• High cholesterol
• Lack of exercise
• Alcohol abuse
• Obesity

The bottom line with strokes is time is of the essence. If you believe you or someone you know is having a stroke, call 911 immediately.

• Symptoms of a stroke can be remembered through the acronym FAST:
• Face: Does one side of the face droop?
• Arms: Does one arm drift downward when both arms are held up?
• Speech: Is speech slurred?
• Time: If a person shows any of these signs, call 911 immediately.

The William W. Backus Hospital is a state-designated Primary Stroke Center, meaning it offers rapid, comprehensive, evidence-based stroke care. But even the best program in the world doesn’t have a chance if too much time is lost.

Cindy Arpin, is a registered nurse and Stroke Coordinator at The William W. Backus Hospital. This column should not replace advice or instruction from your physician. E-mail Ms. Arpin or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org. To comment on this or other Healthy Living columns, click below or go to the Healthy Living blog at www.backushospital.org/backus-blogs.