Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. Almost 800,000 people have a stroke in the United States each year and it is responsible for approximately 130,000 deaths. The risk of having a stroke is twice as high in African Americans than in Caucasians, and it occurs more frequently in men than in women.
There are two types of stroke, hemorrhagic and ischemic. A hemorrhagic stroke is either a brain aneurysm or a weakened blood vessel that leaks thus creating swelling and pressure in the brain that damages the cells. This type of stroke occurs about 15 percent of the time but is responsible for about 40 percent of all stroke deaths. The other type of stroke is an ischemic stroke and it occurs when the flow of blood to the brain is blocked by a blood clot. The blockage may occur when a blood clot or fragment of plaque travels from another part of the body through the blood vessels into the brain and blocks the flow of blood. When blood flow is blocked, oxygen can’t reach the brain cells and they die and it causes loss of function in that part of the brain.
Warning signs of a stroke can be remembered by the acronym “FAST”.
Face – Ask the person to smile. Does one side droop?
Arms – Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
Speech – Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
Time – If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.
Stroke warning signs are characterized by sudden numbness of the face, arm or leg, usually on one side of the body. Strokes are accompanied by confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding, trouble seeing in one or both eyes, and sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
Anyone who is exhibiting signs of a stroke should call 9-1-1 immediately and be brought to the nearest hospital. The sooner a person can be evaluated and treatment started, the more hope there is that the effects can be minimized, and potentially reversed.
Flushing Hospital recently was recognized by the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association for its Gold Plus level of participation in the “Get With The Guidelines Stroke and Target; Stroke” program. They were recognized for applying the most up-to-date evidence based treatment guidelines to improve patient care and outcomes in the community.
If you would like to schedule an appointment with a physician at Flushing Hospital, please call 718-670-5486.
All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.