BY ALLISON KOZICHAROW AND BERNICE BORN
A recent HealthDay article reports that a study of 27,000 people from around the world found that the majority of strokes are preventable. Further, the report cited the top 10 risk factors for strokes [see sidebar].
The 10 main risk factors for stroke are:
"The study confirms that hypertension is the most important modifiable risk factor in all regions, and the key target in reducing the burden of stroke globally," said study co-leader Martin O’Donnell, M.D. Dr. O’Donnell is an associate clinical professor in the Population Health Research Institute at McMaster
Strokes can affect people of all ages and backgrounds. A stroke occurs when the flow of oxygen-rich blood to a portion of the brain is blocked. Without oxygen, brain cells start to die after a few minutes.
According to the World Heart Federation, 15 million people worldwide suffer a stroke every year. Do you know the signs of a person having a stroke? And if so, would you know what to do?
WiRED International has created a three-part series of modules on stroke and a module on hypertension in order to educate grassroots audiences on the condition’s fundamentals, prevention and dangers.
Acting F.A.S.T. Is Key for Stroke
Acting F.A.S.T. can help stroke patients get the treatments they desperately need. The most effective stroke treatments are available only if the stroke is recognized and diagnosed within three hours of the first symptoms. Stroke patients may not receive the most effective treatments if they don’t arrive at the hospital in time.
If you think someone may be having a stroke, act F.A.S.T. and use the following simple test:
F—Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A—Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S—Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
T—Time: If you observe any of these signs, call for emergency help immediately.
Note the time when any symptoms first appear. Some treatments for stroke work only if given in the first three hours after symptoms appear. If you think you are having a stroke, do not drive to the hospital or let someone else drive you. Instead, call an ambulance so that medical personnel can begin life-saving treatment on the way to the emergency room.