Stroke awareness: Time lost is a brain lost

Meghan Viegas | posted May 26, 2010 |

May is Stroke Awareness Month, and as the third greatest cause of death for individuals in the United States it has become increasingly important to recognize the typical signs and symptoms of a stroke.

More and more, strokes are being referred to as “brain attacks.” A stroke occurs when there is a blockage of blood flow to the brain. This blockage can be caused by a clot, a narrowing of the blood vessels, or -- less likely -- bleeding within the brain (also known as cerebral hemorrhage).

Time is of the essence when an individual experiences a stroke. It is estimated that in one second 32,000 brain cells die; after one minute, an ischemic stroke will have killed 1.9 million brain cells. When a stroke is suspected, the individual should seek medical attention immediately. The faster you can be medically treated, the better your outcome. Unfortunately, only one in every five individuals detects the signs and symptoms of a stroke before it’s too late.

As a means to spread stroke awareness, the National Stroke Association has encouraged the usage of the new F.A.S.T. test to help assess individuals if they are having a stroke. Please click here to view its steps.

If an individual is having a stroke and is medically evaluated within a four-to-six-hour window, certain treatments are possible to help limit the severity of the stroke’s complications. If an individual cannot be examined within that time limit, treatment options become considerably limited and the consequences can be permanently disabling.

To limit the chances of developing a stroke for yourself and loved ones, please follow these steps:

• Control your cholesterol, diabetes and blood pressure, even if it means taking multiple medications to keep things stable. Continue to communicate with your practitioner and establish realistic goals.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Stop smoking.
• If prescribed, take your blood thinners on a consistent basis.
• Incorporate activity into your daily schedule.

Don’t allow time to be a factor in not pursuing treatment for a stroke. When in doubt, have questionable stroke symptoms evaluated at your clinician’s office or in the emergency room. Together, we can reduce the severity of strokes in our families and neighborhoods. Every moment counts. Time lost is a brain lost.