No one plans on disaster – when a house fire or a flood strikes, it may be too late to make an action plan. That is why it’s important to be prepared. Being prepared means making sure your family has a plan in place for the unexpected. This includes medical emergencies like a stroke. Strokes can happen when a blood clot blocks or reduces the blood flow to part of your brain, or when an artery ruptures, causing bleeding in the brain. The damage from a stroke happens quickly – in fact, an average of two million brain cells die every minute when the blood flow to part of the brain is blocked. Unfortunately, this damage to the brain often leads to long-term disability or even death. Early and fast intervention can make the difference between a complete recovery and permanent disability. Having a plan, knowing the signs, and knowing what to do quickly can save a life.
Signs of Stroke
A stroke can happen to anyone – at any age, or at any time. When the brain isn’t working right because of a stroke, there are signs. Use this BE FAST acronym to help remember what those signs are.
B – Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination.
E – Eyesight: Sudden onset of painless vision loss in one eye or part of the vision, double-vision, or a drooping eyelid.
F – Facial droop: Sudden drooping or numbness on one side of the face. Ask the person to smile – is their smile uneven or asymmetric?
A – Arm weakness: Sudden weakness or numbness in one arm. Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward or turn in?
S – Speech: Sudden difficulty finding/understanding words or slurred speech.
T – Time. If you or a loved one has any one of these symptoms, it’s time to call 911 immediately. Do not delay – every second counts!
Act Fast
We can’t stress this enough. The sooner a patient can get treatment, the better the outcome, and some treatments can only be used if the stroke is diagnosed within the first few hours. Even if you or your loved one identified the problem late, time is still of the essence, as some patients may be eligible for mechanical thrombectomy (removal of a blood clot using a catheter) up to 24 hours after they were last known to be well, but they must be diagnosed and treated quickly to get the best possible results. Call 911 immediately and get emergency medical attention right away.
If you live in the Treasure Valley, know that a Saint Alphonsus Stroke Center of Excellence is nearby. Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise is a Comprehensive Level 1 Stroke Center – the highest level of designation. It offers Idaho’s first and only Neuro, Surgical, Trauma ICU and Stepdown Unit, which ensures patients receive fast, state-of-the-art stroke care. In Canyon County, Saint Alphonsus Medical Center in Nampa is a Primary Stroke Center, with the full suite of treatments for stroke, including mechanical thrombectomy, the procedure to retrieve blood clots from the brain.
Emergency Information
If you suffer a stroke, it’s important for the first responders to know critical information about you, especially if you are not able to communicate. Keep a card in your wallet or your purse, and have a copy on your refrigerator and with a family member or friend, that has the following information:
- What emergency department you would prefer to be taken to
- Your emergency contact person’s name and phone number, including a backup person
- Your primary doctor’s name and contact information
- A list of your medical conditions
- A list of your medications, including the drug name, dosage, and strength
Here is a link to download an emergency information card to carry in your wallet or purse. For instructions on how to add emergency information to your smartphone, here are links to instructions for iPhone and instructions for Android.
Know Your Risk
Knowing your family’s risk of having a stroke is important in preventing a stroke. Some factors can be treated, reduced, or medically managed:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Tobacco use
- Excessive alcohol use
- Atrial fibrillation / abnormal heart rhythm
- Obesity and sedentary lifestyle
- Illegal drug use
- Older age
- History of prior stroke
- High red blood cell count
- Heredity or genetics
If you have some of these risk factors, talk to your primary care provider: they can help you make necessary changes to reduce the risk of stroke. If you are in need of a primary care physician, you can find one and schedule online today.
Dr. Lukas Clark, MD is the Stroke Medical Director at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise