My PSA for September

My PSA (public service announcement) for September is stroke awareness. Our hospital is a certified stroke center. This means our staff has been specially trained, certified and regularly audited to ensure we deliver the best in stroke care. As part of all that, we have to go through annual training. So, I had to sit through 8 hours of information on stroke and I thought I would share some basics.

Like many health problems, the earlier something is diagnosed, the better your chances for survival and recovery. Also, there are lots of things you can do to lower your risk of stroke.

Stroke can also be called a brain attack, because as in a heart attack, a stroke is when blood supply is interrupted to the brain. The blood supply can be interrupted by a clot obstructing blood flow or it can be by hemorrhage, as in a blood vessel bursting. The most common strokes are from clots.

The acronym to remember and pass along to anyone you know will help you recognize the early signs of stroke and help get you treatment faster:
F. A. S. T.

• Facial droop
• Arm drift
• Slurred speech or inability to speak
• Time is important: If the person has any of these symptoms act fast, call 911

There are several risk factors that increase your chances of having a stroke:

• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Smoking
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol

This means if you smoke, you should stop. Have your blood pressure checked regularly and if you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, take your medications. Other ways to lower your blood pressure is to drop as little as 10 extra pounds and increase your aerobic exercise. Managing your diabetes helps ensure cardiovascular health. And like everyone keeps telling us, eating more fruit and veggies and less fat helps with weight management, lower cholesterol levels and a healthier heart.

For more info:

• NIH Know Stroke
• National Stroke Association

And lastly, don't be afraid to go to the hospital and find out you have nothing wrong with you. We have seen and heard from lots of stroke patients and their families. People who tried to self-diagnose and avoid coming in to the hospital, have the scariest and sometimes saddest stories. And don't try to drive yourself in if you think you are having a stroke. One guy did and ended up in an accident that injured others, including himself.