|
In the face of stroke, think FAST |
|
April 21, 2017 |
By Stu Willis, MD
Emergency Department Director
Boundary Community Hospital
A drooping face, weakness or numbness on one
side, slurred or garbled speech ... this might
be a stroke! Like heart attacks, a stroke is a
life-and-death emergency; time is critical and
every second counts, so think F-A-S-T and dial
9-1-1 immediately.
F-A-S-T is a reminder of some of the signs of a
stroke:
* FACE – Is there a droop on one side? Have the
person smile;
* ARMS – Is there weakness on one side? |Have
them raise the arms, test the hand grip;
* SPEECH – Is there altered speech (slurred or
unable to speak)? Have them say “the sky is
blue;”
* TIME – Every second is crucial; certain
procedures and medications must be done quickly.
Other sudden and unexpected signs of a possible
stroke include, but are not limited to,
confusion or difficulty understanding, numbness
on one side or part of the body, trouble seeing
with one or both eyes, dizziness, loss of
balance or difficulty walking, and a severe
headache with no prior history (such as a
migraine).
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in
the U.S., Idaho and Boundary County, killing
133,000 persons annually nationwide – about 1 in
20 deaths. Someone in the U.S. has a stroke
every 40 seconds. The care for a stroke patient
and the consequent disability results in over
$34 billion in annual healthcare costs, as well
as the anguish for the patient and the family.
There are two basic types of stroke – An
“ischemic” stroke is caused by a blood flow
blockage, similar to a heart attack clot; and a
“hemorrhagic” stroke, a stroke caused by
spontaneous bleeding in the brain (sometimes
from a burst aneurysm). An emergency CT scan is
needed to determine the difference. If the
stroke is ischemic, a “clot-buster” medication
must be administered within three hours of the
onset of symptoms (up to 4 ½ hours in certain
instances). So, “TIME is BRAIN!”
The hospital Emergency Department staff stands
ready with 24/7 CT scan capability to determine
if a stroke is “ischemic” or “hemorrhagic,” and
can immediately deliver the “clot-buster”
medicine when indicated. But it must start with
the recognition of stroke signs and symptoms and
dialing 9-1-1.
Worldwide, stroke is the second leading cause of
death after heart disease. Many experts feel
enhanced public education to decrease the risk
factors leading to stroke and the notable
systems in place for early stroke identification
and treatment have contributed to the lower
death rates in the U.S.
Stroke is not just a disease of “old” people. A
stroke can strike at any age, and in the U.S.,
about one-third of strokes occur in persons
under the age of 65. Even persons in their 20s
and 30s (or younger) can suffer strokes.
Prevention, through public education and
intervention, is the key to lowering the stroke
risk. The American Heart Association and
American Stroke Association have identified
seven key health risk factors and behaviors that
influence the onset of heart disease and stroke
in the U.S.
These “Life’s Simple 7” are:
1. Smoking – over 15% of the population smokes;
in 2014 there were about 5,700 new cigarette
smokers every day. If you smoke, STOP!
2. Physical Inactivity – 30% of adults do not
engage in leisure time physical activity. Even a
little EXERCISE helps.
3. Nutrition – improvements have recently been
made in healthier eating, particularly increased
whole grain, fruit, and vegetable consumption,
with a decrease in sugar-sweetened beverage
intake. The excessive use of sodium (salt)
remains problematic. EAT SMART.
4. Obesity – alarmingly, obesity is on the rise;
the U.S. obesity rate has increased from 30.5 to
37.7% in the past 15 years. LOSE WEIGHT.
5. High Blood Pressure – 86 million adults (30%)
have hypertension and only 45% have it under
control; three of every four first-time stroke
patients have blood pressure over 140/90. Get a
BP CHECK – 130/80 is nice, 120/70 even better.
6. Cholesterol – 95 million adults (40%) have
high cholesterol, and many don’t even know it.
Have a CHOLESTEROL blood test – it can be
treated.
7. Diabetes – 31 million adults (12%) have
diabetes, and 30% of them don’t know it; in
addition, 34% of all Americans have prediabetes.
Get a BLOOD SUGAR test - diabetes can be a
killer.
As the first Pacific Northwest hospital to
receive the Critical Access Hospital designation
by the federal government, Boundary Community
Hospital plays an essential role in meeting the
healthcare needs of Bonners Ferry and the
surrounding county. Under the Idaho Time
Sensitive Emergency System, the hospital was
recently awarded the designation as a TSE Level
IV Trauma Center.
The hospital is now actively engaged in meeting
the stringent criteria required for designation
as a Level III Stroke Center. |
|
Questions or comments about this
article?
Click here to e-mail! |
|
|
|
|
